Scams are calling ... Dont answer!

PAUL GRAPENDAAL

BLACK Friday 2020 could be bigger online than in-store this year, thanks to concerns about the Covid-19 risk in crowded shops, and more people now comfortable with shopping online.

But in the quest for a bargain, online shopping could be more lucrative for criminals than it is for consumers this Black Friday.

Cyber criminals and fraudsters can take advantage of unwary shoppers by getting access to their bank details to steal money; using personal information for fraud and theft; or accepting payment for goods they don’t deliver.

To avoid disappointment, theft and fraud, here are tips for safer online shopping this Black Friday:

• Make sure the software on your desktop, laptop or mobile device is up to date, and that you have anti-virus software installed.

• Don’t let a “great” deal trump your common sense – if it looks too good to be true, it often is.

• Buy only from reputable retailers – particularly for big ticket items. If you don’t know the store well, read customer reviews, look up their business address and phone number, and check that they really exist. Some scammers list fictitious business addresses – check them by using Google Street View.

Be particularly cautious about who you buy from on social media marketplaces: look at how long they have been around, and check reviews and ratings from customers.

Don’t simply click on emailed links to competitions or discount vouchers, especially if they use urgency to encourage you to do so – for example, by saying certain benefits are available for the next 5 minutes only or only the first 50 shoppers will receive the discount.

Cyber criminals can easily create websites and emails that appear to be from legitimate businesses. Don’t follow links from emails – rather go directly to the retailer’s website. Be cautious about downloading email attachments claiming to be price lists/vouchers.

Check that the online retailer is using a secure payment gateway; that the site URL begins with “https” and not “http”; and retain proof of payment emails.

Paul Grapendaal is head of managed security services at Nclose. | BUSINESS REPORT