The Top Black Friday Scams of 2026: How to Spot Them and Shop Safely
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a bargain hunter‘s dream—and a scammer‘s favorite hunting ground. As consumers seek out the season‘s best deals and steals, cybercriminals are seeking out unsuspecting victims to defraud.
The numbers paint a startling picture:
- 75% of Americans have experienced some type of fraud [1]
- Online fraud attempts spiked 25% from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday [2]
- Scammers took in a record $5.8 billion from fraud in 2021 [3]
Don‘t let online Grinches rob you of your holiday cheer (and cash)! As a cybersecurity expert with over a decade battling digital threats, I‘ll break down the top scams to watch out for this year and share my best tips to protect yourself.
2024‘s "Dirty Dozen" Black Friday Scams
Scammers may reuse the same bag of dirty tricks, but they‘re always finding new twists. Here are the top scams on my "naughty list" for 2024:
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Spoofed websites and fake online stores. In this ruse, scammers create sites that mimic well-known retailers to trick you into entering payment info. Telltale signs include slightly "off" URLs, missing/outdated contact info, and rock-bottom prices. When in doubt, go directly to a retailer‘s site by typing the URL yourself.
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Bogus "too-good-to-be-true" deals spread via phishing. If a 90%-off deal lands in your inbox or pops up on social media, be skeptical. Go to the merchant‘s official site to verify offers. Scammers often use phony coupons and promotions to lure victims and spread malware.
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Malicious ads and pop-ups. Also known as "malvertising," this scam involves placing ads infected with malicious code on legitimate sites. Clicking the ad can trigger a drive-by download of malware. Use an ad blocker, keep your browser updated, and don‘t click on suspicious ads.
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Fake charities and donation scams. The holidays inspire generosity, but scammers prey on that to line their own pockets. Vet any organization on watchdog sites like Charity Navigator and GuideStar before donating. Also watch for sound-alike names and email domains.
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Gift card scams. Gift cards are easy to spend and hard to trace, making them attractive to scammers. Stick to buying from reputable sources. Be wary of anyone demanding payment in gift cards only—it‘s likely a scam.
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Delivery notification scams. You may receive phishing emails or texts posing as UPS, FedEx or the Postal Service claiming a package couldn‘t be delivered. The goal is to get you to click a malicious link or give up info like your address or account login. Always check tracking directly on the carrier‘s official site.
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"Problem with your order" phishing attempts. In this swindle, you receive an email about an issue with an order and are asked to update payment info or click a link. Don‘t bite! Contact the merchant directly if you suspect something‘s true Ly amiss with an order.
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"Verify your account" cons. You may get an urgent phish warning your retail account has been frozen or will be deleted unless you verify your info. Again, always log in to your account directly instead of through links in messages.
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Malicious shopping apps. Fake apps that masquerade as outlets for popular brands have surged. Some contain adware that spams you with pop-ups, while others can spread malware and steal data. Only download retail apps from trusted sources like the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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Smishing scams. "Smishing" is phishing‘s evil text message twin. Scammers may pose as your bank or a retailer warning of suspicious charges. Other smishing attempts lure you with texts promising freebies or steep discounts. Don‘t click links or call any numbers in unsolicited texts.
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Social media gift exchanges and giveaways. Tis the season for pyramid-style "Secret Sister" gift exchanges to make the rounds on Facebook. But it‘s actually an illegal scam. The Better Business Bureau also warns of scammers impersonating brand accounts on Twitter and Instagram to peddle counterfeit goods and bogus offers. [4]
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Fake order/invoice scams. In this con, you receive emails about purchases you never made. The scammer may claim you need to pay up or share info to cancel the order. Don‘t engage! Contact the actual merchant directly if you suspect fraud.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Safer Holiday Shopping
In addition to watching out for specific scams, here are some expert tips to minimize your overall risk while deal seeking:
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Stick to retailers you know and trust. If a site or seller is new to you, do your homework. Check for contact information, online reviews, and proper security measures. Scammers often cloak themselves in the anonymity of the web.
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Resist "act now" pressure and too-good-to-be-true offers. Scammer tactics rely heavily on manipulating human emotions. They create a false sense of urgency (act now before it‘s gone!) or scarcity (only 3 left at this price!) to short-circuit your better judgment. Slow down and think before you click.
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Don‘t shop on public Wi-Fi. Open hotspots at malls, coffee shops, and airports are convenient but risky. Hackers can intercept your data over public networks. Stick to secure private connections or use a VPN service to encrypt your activity.
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Verify site security before entering sensitive info. Always check for "https://" at the beginning of web addresses on payment screens. The "s" means your data will be encrypted. Also look for a tiny lock icon in the URL bar.
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Use credit cards and secure payment methods. Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protections and make it easier to dispute unauthorized charges than debit cards. Or use third-party payment processors like PayPal for an added layer of security. [5]
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Keep software and systems up-to-date. Scammers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated programs. Set your OS, browser, and security software to update automatically. This helps patch known security holes bad actors use to sneak in malware.
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Deploy strong, unique passwords. Create a distinct password for each of your accounts and make it a complex mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Remembering dozens of passwords is a pain – consider using a reputable password manager.
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Enable two-factor authentication. 2FA adds an extra layer of security beyond passwords by requiring a second form of verification like a code texted to your phone. Turn it on everywhere it‘s offered, especially for sensitive financial and email accounts.
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Stay alert to social engineering red flags. Scammers are skilled at exploiting human psychology to manipulate victims. Be on guard for messages that convey undue urgency, authority, or promise big payoffs for little effort. Spot these mental traps and you‘re less likely to fall for them.
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Trust your gut. Ultimately, if a message or interaction feels "off" or makes the hair on your neck stand up, listen to your instincts! You‘re probably sensing some warning signs your conscious mind hasn‘t put together yet. When in doubt, don‘t engage.
What to Do If You Get Grinched
Even the most cyber-savvy among us can fall prey to increasingly sophisticated scams. If you suspect you‘ve been had, swift action is crucial to recouping losses and preventing further damage:
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Notify your bank and credit card companies ASAP. This is the most important first step. Call the number on the back of your card to report fraudulent charges and request a new card immediately. Many card issuers also allow you to temporarily "freeze" your card if you misplace it or notice something amiss.
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Change compromised account logins. As soon as you discover you‘ve been scammed, change passwords for any impacted accounts. If you use that same password elsewhere, change it there too. Password managers make this less of a headache by generating and storing complex passwords.
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Run antivirus scans. If you suspect malware may be at play, run a full system scan with your security software to root out malicious files. You may also want to deploy a malware removal tool for an extra deep clean.
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Check your credit. In the US, you‘re entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major bureaus annually. Scour it for suspicious activity and accounts you don‘t recognize. Consider placing a fraud alert or freeze if you discover any fishy business.
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Report the scam. Notify the retailer or platform where the scam originated. Also file complaints with the proper authorities, such as:
- The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- The FBI‘s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov
- Your state‘s attorney general
Reporting helps law enforcement track patterns to (hopefully) bring scammers to justice. Also warn your friends and family about the circulating con to save them grief.
The Bottom Line on Holiday Shopping Scams
The sad reality is, scammers and fraudsters don‘t take holidays off. If anything, they ramp up efforts to cash in on the flurry of Black Friday and Cyber Monday transactions. By some estimates, online fraud attempts spike 25% from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday compared to the rest of the year. [6]
Scammers go where the money flows, and the tsunami of online spending makes the perfect camouflage for their schemes. Couple that with most Americans‘ lack of cybersecurity knowledge (only 15% said they felt "very confident" they could recognize an online scam), [7] and it‘s easy pickings for digital thieves.
But by educating yourself about the latest tricks up scammers‘ sleeves and following cybersecurity best practices, you can turn would-be swindlers into the turkeys. Incorporate anti-scam techniques into your deal-seeking routine, take sensible precautions, and heed red flags. Maintaining a healthy skepticism is your best defense.
If you do get duped, don‘t beat yourself up. Even the most cyber-savvy among us can fall for increasingly sophisticated social engineering tactics. What matters most is acting quickly to mitigate financial losses and prevent further identity theft.
So go forth and snap up those Black Friday and Cyber Monday steals with the peace of mind that you‘re a prepared, empowered consumer. And share this guide with the tech-challenged loved ones in your life to help them shop smart too.
Here‘s to outsmarting digital scammers and keeping your holidays merry, bright, and free of cyber-Grinches!
Sources:
- AARP Survey Shows Nearly All Consumers Have Experienced Attempted Fraud
- Online Retail Fraud Attacks Surge 25% Between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday
- Consumers Lost Over $5.8 Billion to Fraud in 2021, a 70% Increase Over 2020
- BBB Scam Alert: Beware of gift exchange scams on social media this holiday season
- Debit vs. Credit Card: Which is Safer to Use?
- Fraud Rates Spike on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
- Just 15% of Americans Very Confident They Can Tell Online Scams From Legitimate Communications