{"id":23363,"date":"2024-11-21T09:22:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T09:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/?p=23363"},"modified":"2024-11-21T09:23:16","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T09:23:16","slug":"how-to-stay-ahead-of-social-media-shopping-scams-this-black-friday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/2024\/11\/21\/how-to-stay-ahead-of-social-media-shopping-scams-this-black-friday\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stay ahead of social media shopping scams this Black Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By: Cybersecurity specialists at <\/i>ESET Southern Africa<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/p>\n

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South African shoppers are turning to their social media feeds to find the best Black Friday deals \u2013 unfortunately, cybercriminals aren’t far behind. In 2023, an estimated 90.6 million people worldwide shopped online on Black Friday, with South Africa’s BankservAfrica recording 1.4 million online transactions \u2013 an 11% increase from the previous year. While seasoned shoppers may feel confident in avoiding scams, fraudsters have become adept at blending in with the flood of social media discounts. Leveraging the trust consumers place in these platforms, cybercriminals mimic legitimate brands and deals, making it all too easy for shoppers to overlook critical warning signs in their rush to snag a bargain.<\/p>\n

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Common social media shopping scams<\/b><\/p>\n

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  1. Fake or cloned websites.<\/b>\u00a0One of the most common scam tactics involves directing shoppers to websites that look identical to those of reputable brands. These sites use similar branding, logos, and layouts, but have subtle differences in the URL, such as .co instead of .com or .co.za. The pressure of losing out on Black Friday deal can make consumers less vigilant, which fraudsters exploit by creating fake sites that lure shoppers in with unbeatable offers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    1. Deceptive dropshipping ads.<\/b>\u00a0A number of ads on social media lead to dropshipping sites masquerading as local businesses, promising quick delivery and premium products. Shoppers may not realise they’ve purchased low-quality knockoffs until their orders arrive, with little to no recourse for returns or refunds. These ads often present as South African-based companies but are actually sourcing cheap goods from overseas, relying on the perception that because the advert appears on a reputable social media platform, the store is 100% legitimate too.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      1. Phishing for personal and payment details.<\/b>\u00a0Social media scams frequently employ fake checkout pages or order forms to harvest sensitive information. These sites often display trusted payment icons, creating a false sense of legitimacy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        If a site linked from social media seems suspicious, avoid entering personal details. Scammers often use this information for fraudulent transactions.<\/p>\n

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        4)<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 Black Friday giveaways and limited offers.<\/b>\u00a0Scam ads offering Black Friday giveaways or urging users to act quickly are designed to bypass normal caution. These pages might ask users to claim a prize by entering personal information or paying a small fee. Countdown timers and ‘last chance’ messages are used to create a sense of urgency, but it’s worth keeping in mind that legitimate retailers don’t use these methods like this to pressure shoppers.<\/p>\n

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        Tips for social media shoppers<\/b><\/p>\n

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