How to Spot and Avoid Black Friday Scams
If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Stay safe with these tips.
Black Friday is a prime time for scammers. They take advantage of the shopping frenzy, knowing that people are hunting for bargains and might let their guard down. Here are the most common red flags to watch out for.
1. The "Too Good to Be True" Price
This is the oldest trick in the book. You see an ad for a brand new PlayStation 5 for 70% off. As tempting as it is, this is almost certainly a scam. Reputable retailers offer discounts, but they rarely go to such unbelievable extremes on high-demand products. Use tools like ours to check the price against legitimate stores. If no one else is close to that price, it's a trap.
Red Flag: Unbelievable Discounts
A new iPhone for R5000? A R40,000 TV for R4,000? These are tactics used to steal your money or your credit card details. Always be skeptical.
2. Fake Websites and Typos
Scammers create fake websites that look nearly identical to real ones. They might buy a domain like "Takealots.co.za" or "Makro-Deals.com". Always check the URL in your browser's address bar. Look for small misspellings or different domain extensions (.net instead of .co.za, for example).
A legitimate site will also have a secure connection. Look for the padlock icon and "https://" (not "http://") in the address bar, especially on the checkout page.
3. Suspicious Payment Methods
Be extremely wary if a website *only* accepts payment via bank transfer (EFT), a wire service like MoneyGram, or cryptocurrency. These payment methods are untraceable and non-refundable. Legitimate retailers will always offer secure credit card processing or trusted third-party options like PayFast, Yoco, or PayPal.
4. Phishing Emails and Social Media Ads
You'll get emails and see ads on Facebook or Instagram offering "exclusive" deals. These often link to the fake websites mentioned above. Look for:
- Generic Greetings: "Dear Valued Customer" instead of your name.
- Sense of Urgency: "Deal ends in 5 minutes! BUY NOW!"
- Poor Grammar & Spelling: Reputable companies usually have professional copywriters.
- Strange Sender Address: The email might say it's from "Makro" but the sender address is "makro-deals@some-random-domain.com".
Your best defence? If you see a great deal in an ad or email, don't click the link. Instead, open a new browser tab and type the retailer's official website address yourself. Then, search for the deal there. If it's real, you'll find it. If not, you've just saved yourself a massive headache.