Baller Alert
  • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • The Baller Alert Show
    • Baller Alert Lists
    • Baller Alert Exclusives
    • Let Me Liv
    • Ballerific Music
    • That’s Baller
    • Fashion
    • Metaverse
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Op-Ed
    • Travel
    • Health
  • EVENTS
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Political News
  • en español
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • The Baller Alert Show
    • Baller Alert Lists
    • Baller Alert Exclusives
    • Let Me Liv
    • Ballerific Music
    • That’s Baller
    • Fashion
    • Metaverse
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Op-Ed
    • Travel
    • Health
  • EVENTS
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Political News
  • en español
No Result
View All Result
Baller Alert
No Result
View All Result

FBI Issues Urgent Warning for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shoppers: Scammers Are Targeting You

With fraudulent websites and phishing scams on the rise, the FBI and cybersecurity experts share essential tips for safe online shopping this holiday season.

by thinktank
November 29, 2024
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
FBI Issues Urgent Warning for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shoppers: Scammers Are Targeting You

online scams

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping frenzy, scammers are working overtime to exploit online shoppers. According to the latest reports, fraudulent websites have surged by a staggering 89% compared to last year, with nearly 80% of shopping-related emails flagged as scams. Even trusted Google search results have been compromised to redirect users to dangerous sites.

In response, the FBI has issued an urgent warning to shoppers, outlining key steps to avoid falling victim to scams during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the rest of the holiday season. For anyone using Chrome, Safari, or Edge—browsers that account for 95% of the U.S. market—this is a must-read checklist.

FBI’s Seven Key Warnings for Online Shoppers

  1. Verify URLs Before You Shop: Make sure the website URL is legitimate and secure, with a padlock icon in the address bar and “https://” at the beginning. Suspicious URLs or misspellings are red flags.
  2. Research New Websites: Never make purchases from unfamiliar websites without reading reviews. Beware of fake reviews and ensure the site is reputable.
  3. Check Seller Ratings on Marketplaces: Avoid sellers with negative or no feedback. Opt for those with many completed transactions and positive reviews.
  4. Avoid Unbelievable Deals from Overseas “Authorized Dealers”: Scammers often pose as factory reps offering deep discounts, but these are typically counterfeit goods or items that never ship.
  5. Be Wary of Sellers Claiming to Be Abroad: If a seller claims to be out of the country due to a “family emergency” or “business trip,” this is a common scam tactic.
  6. Steer Clear of Unusual Shipping or Payment Requests: Never bypass customs or pay via direct money transfers. Use credit cards for additional protection.
  7. Don’t Pay with Prepaid Gift Cards: Scammers often request gift card numbers and PINs, taking the funds without delivering the items.

AI-Crafted Phishing Scams on the Rise
Cybersecurity experts, including Check Point and Bitdefender, have reported a surge in phishing scams designed to mimic trusted brands. These AI-generated scams craft convincing emails, QR codes, and websites offering “deals” that seem too good to be true.

Check Point’s Five Key Tips to Spot Scams

  • Double-check URLs for spelling errors or unusual domains.
  • Ensure the URL begins with “https://” and shows a padlock icon.
  • Verify emails by cross-referencing the sender with legitimate company contacts.
  • Avoid clicking on random QR codes without verifying their source.
  • Never share unnecessary personal information, like your Social Security number or date of birth.

Examples of Fake Websites Targeting Shoppers

  • Stüssy: stussycanadablackfriday[.]com
  • Longchamp: longchampblackfriday[.]com
  • Wayfair: wayfareblackfriday[.]com
  • SOREL: soreloutletblackfriday[.]com
  • J.Crew: jcrewblackfriday[.]com

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Discover more from Baller Alert

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Related Posts

Trump Says Coca-Cola Agrees to Use Real Cane Sugar in U.S. Formula After His Request
News

Trump Says Coca-Cola Agrees to Use Real Cane Sugar in U.S. Formula After His Request

July 16, 2025

Donald Trump has taken credit for convincing Coca-Cola to sweeten its U.S. formula by swapping high-fructose corn syrup for real...

Maurene Comey, Epstein Prosecutor and Daughter of Former FBI Director, Fired From DOJ
News

Maurene Comey, Epstein Prosecutor and Daughter of Former FBI Director, Fired From DOJ

July 16, 2025

Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey and a key prosecutor in the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell...

Former Minnesota Vikings Star Everson Griffen Removed from Delta Flight Over Unruly Behavior
News

Former Minnesota Vikings Star Everson Griffen Removed from Delta Flight Over Unruly Behavior

July 16, 2025

Former four‑time Pro Bowler Everson Griffen found himself at the center of an unexpected incident this Wednesday when he was removed...

Akademiks, SZA, Drake
Entertainment

DJ Akademiks Says SZA Cried to Drake and TDE Over Online Heat—TDE President Punch Responds

July 16, 2025

It’s getting messy on the timeline. DJ Akademiks claimed that SZA broke down behind the scenes and called on Drake,...

Next Post
Florida Man Arrested for Allegedly Scamming Elderly Woman Out of $250,000 by Posing as Elon Musk

Florida Man Arrested for Allegedly Scamming Elderly Woman Out of $250,000 by Posing as Elon Musk

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Baller News

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

* indicates required

Follow Us

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright 2024, Baller Alert Inc. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • The Baller Alert Show
    • Baller Alert Lists
    • Baller Alert Exclusives
    • Let Me Liv
    • Ballerific Music
    • That’s Baller
    • Fashion
    • Metaverse
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Op-Ed
    • Travel
    • Health
  • EVENTS
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Political News
  • en español
%d