In South Africa, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become much-anticipated days on our annual shopping calendar. Stores nationwide slash prices, offering significant discounts that attract tens of thousands of consumers.
Many of these deals are available online, and while these digital shopping opportunities offer ease and convenience during the busy festive season, Privesan Naidoo, Executive: Trading Products at Nedbank, cautions that online shopping can also leave you vulnerable to theft. “While the convenience of online shopping is undeniable, it can lull us into a false sense of security,” he says, “but we should be doubly vigilant when shopping online to ensure that the season of giving doesn’t become a season of loss due to cyber scams.” He offers a number of useful tips to help online shoppers stay safe as they click their way through the great deals and discounts over the 2023 ‘sales season’:
Be wary of emails offering deals – It’s common to get a lot of promotional emails about sales during November and December. Remember that scammers also use emails as one of the main ways to try to trick consumers into sharing their personal and banking details. Before you click on any offers, take a good look at who sent the email. “Trust your gut, if something feels even slightly wrong, don’t act on an email offer. Rather visit the store’s website to check if the deal is legitimate and take it up there.”
Be extra careful on social media – Platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) get flooded with special deals leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Scammers like to use these sites, too, especially because people often get caught up in the social media hype and noise. Remember, it’s hard to tell if a link on social media is dangerous or a scam. If a deal in your news feed looks good, visit the retailer’s official page or website to ensure it’s real.
Make sure websites are real – This time of the year sees a host of scam websites popping up. Some of the tell-tale signs that a site may be fake include small changes in the web address, a strange email address, or poor-quality images. “Before you buy anything, check that the website is legitimate, and always look for the ‘https’ at the beginning of the web address, which usually means the site is secure.”
Do your homework on deals – While not every deal you see online is a scam, it’s also true that not every legitimate deal is actually as good as it makes out. Sometimes retailers try to take advantage of the Black Friday hype to make out that their prices are excellent, when in reality, the items may still be cheaper elsewhere. Before you click on ‘Add to cart’, do a little research online, or over the phone, to make sure that you can’t get the item you’re about to buy cheaper somewhere else.
Do some digital housekeeping before you go shopping – There are a few essential steps you should take before you even start shopping online. Firstly, update your internet browser to the latest version. This is a good way to protect yourself from recent threats introduced by scammers. Then, make sure that the passwords for any of your online accounts, especially digital banking sites, are strong. Mix up letters, numbers, and symbols to make it tough for hackers to get in. And lastly, don’t use public or shared Wi-Fi access when you’re shopping or transacting. It’s easy for hackers to get your information if you use these networks, so it’s best to use your own data or a secure home connection.
Use credit cards instead of debit cards – When you shop online, try to use a credit card instead of a debit card. “Use the American Express® Card online or off, and you won’t be held responsible for any fraudulent charges, as long as you’ve taken reasonable care to protect your Account details, PIN and any device on which you have added your Account information. Notify us at once if your Card or eligible device is lost or stolen, or you suspect it is being used without your permission.”
Keep an eye on your bank account – we encourage consumers to make it a habit to check their bank and credit card statements regularly. “Look out for any purchases you didn’t make and if you see something strange, contact your bank right away,” he says, “the sooner a fraudulent transaction is identified, the better the chances of a positive resolution.”
Remember that, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is – Scammers often use unrealistically low prices to get your attention. If you’re unsure about a deal, it’s best to go directly to the brand’s official website, or call the store’s customer care centre, to check on it. And don’t allow yourself to be rushed into buying an item online by limited time offers or the fear that if you wait, you’re going to miss out. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
“Stay alert, stay secure, and remember, the best deal is one that doesn’t compromise your safety or financial security, so don’t let your eagerness for good deals diminish your common sense. Vigilance costs nothing, but it can save you a lot of money.”
