AMAZON has warned millions of shoppers over Black Friday mistakes that could cost you serious money.
An employee has revealed some of the most common ways you could find yourself out of pocket during the big Black Friday sales event on November 29.
The problem with Black Friday is that it’s a great opportunity for scammers to hoodwink innocent shoppers.
An Amazon staffer revealed that there are several scams that specifically target shoppers during the event.
“Amazon is committed to helping consumers avoid impersonation scams,” the employee explained.
“These happen when a scammer pretends to be a trusted company and reaches out to try to get access to sensitive information like social security numbers, bank information, or Amazon account details.”
HOW TO STAY SAFE ON BLACK FRIDAY
Amazon said that one of the most common scams involves sending you a message about a product purchase.
Typically this will say something like you’ve bought a product and need to confirm some details.
The natural instinct is to click on the link in the email and try to work out what’s gone wrong – but that’s a big mistake.
“If you receive a message about the purchase of a product or service, do not respond to the message or click on any link in the message,” Amazon explained.
“Instead, log into your Amazon account or use the Amazon mobile app and confirm that it is really in your purchase history before taking any action.”
You should also be wary if you receive any message or call asking for payment.
Normally, you’d only be asked to make a payment on the official Amazon website or mobile app.
“We will not call and ask you to make a payment or bank transfer on another website,” Amazon said.
The retail giant also warned that scammers often try to create a false sense of urgency to make you act quickly – and without thinking it through.
Avoid giving in to pressure, especially if you’re being asked to buy a gift card.
BLACK FRIDAY SAFETY TIPS REVEALED
Here’s official security advice from Paul Bischoff, consumer privacy advocate at Comparitech…
To protect yourself this Black Friday, you should be watching out for those too-good-to-be-true emails.
For example, emails titled “90% OFF EVERYTHING!” from what looks like Amazon or Best Buy.
The email appears perfect, down to the logo and formatting. But here’s the catch: clicking that “amazing deal” link could lead you to a fake website that steals your credit card information.
- Hover over (don’t click!) email links to preview the real URL
- Look for spelling mistakes or unusual sender addresses (like [email protected])
- Type the store’s web address directly into your browser instead of clicking email links
Consumers also need to watch out for social media shopping traps. Social media platforms are flooded with fake stores during Black Friday, and many disappear after collecting payments.
A few warning signs to take into consideration are brand new accounts with no customer review, prices that seem impossibly low, poor-quality product photos and pressure tactics such as “Only 2 left!” or “Offer expires in 10 minutes!”.
A few smart shopping tips for consumers are:
- Only buy gift cards directly from authorized retailers
- Never purchase “discounted” gift cards from individuals online
- Check gift card balances immediately after purchase
- Keep your receipt until you’re sure the card works
- Never send gift cards in the mail
“We will never ask you to purchase a gift card, and no legitimate sale or transaction will require you to pay with gift cards,” Amazon explained.
Being asked to pay with a gift card is a sure-fire sign of a scam that you should never ignore.
Amazon warns that if you’re unsure about a message, you should contact them directly.
Don’t use the contact details sent to you via text or email – they might be fraudulent.
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And if customer support ever asks you to download any files, install an app, or make a payment for help, you’re being scammed.
You should also report any scams to Amazon to help other people avoid being fooled too.
