Don’t let email scams spoil your Black Friday

Black Friday is just around the corner, and while it’s a great time to snag fantastic deals, it’s also a peak season for scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. One particularly common way for cybercriminals to operate during this time is through email scams. An email that may look innocent at first glance may lead unsuspecting customers to accidentally share sensitive information with scammers, or infect their devices with malware. In this blog post, we discuss the common types of email scams during Black Friday and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to them.

Types of Black Friday email scams

• Phishing emails: Cybercriminals like to impersonate popular retailers. They send emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, complete with convincing logos and graphics. However, these emails typically contain links that, when clicked, lead to fake websites that are designed to steal your personal data and payment information.
• Fake deals and coupons: Be wary of emails offering exclusive deals or coupons that seem too good to be true. Scammers use these enticing offers to lure victims into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments.
• Spoofed order confirmations or tracking links: Scammers may also send fake order confirmation emails or tracking links. They will claim that you have made a purchase and provide links for tracking or canceling the order. Clicking on these links can lead to malware or phishing sites.

How to protect yourself against Black Friday email scams?

• Check the email address of the sender. Is the email sent from a legitimate address and domain? Sometimes, this is obvious right away. Many times, however, scammers pretend to be sending emails from a domain that appears to belong to a credible company. However, there will actually be a spelling mistake in the domain name that alerts you that this email cannot be trusted. This is called “typosquatting”. In a typosquatted email, an email supposedly sent from LinkedIn might actually be sent from “LinkedIn”. That’s a small difference that makes all the difference when you spot it.
• Check the company logo. Logos of large companies are almost always trademarked. Scammers might use logos that are slightly different from the original. Look closely: does something look different?
• Check the links within the email. Hover over the hyperlinks in the email with your mouse (don’t click them!). Does the URL you see lead to a credible website or does it lead to an unknown one? If you spot any typosquatted links or websites that you have never heard of, this is an email that you can definitely not trust.
• Use a spam filter. A strong spam filter like SpamExperts identifies email scams and blocks them before they can even reach your inbox – strongly minimizing the chance that you even get to see them.
• Know what to do if you do fall victim to an email scam. Of course, this is something you want to avoid. However, in case you do fall for a scam, it is good to know that not all is lost and that there are ways to minimize the damage. This guide takes you through six steps you should take to recover from an email scam.

Conclusion

As Black Friday approaches, it’s crucial to be mindful of email scams. By following the tips mentioned above and staying vigilant, you can enjoy the excitement of the shopping season without falling victim to cybercriminals. Remember, staying informed and practicing safe online habits is the best defense against scams. At Openprovider, we wish you happy and secure shopping!