Russia Prepares Purchase Preconditions for "Black Friday" Shopping Event
Approaching "Black Friday" with Digital Caution
As the cybercriminals gear up for the "Black Friday" sale extravaganza on November 27, it's time to bolster your digital defenses to steer clear of financial losses. Heed these advice from the gurus at Roskachestvo's Center for Digital Expertise to make savvy purchases during the fall sales.
When scammers kick their efforts into high gear, an overwhelming surge of deals can occasionally cloud our judgment. These unscrupulous individuals attempt to exploit our carelessness or lack of digital literacy, leaving us in financial dilemmas. So, let's review essential security practices — some of which we occasionally overlook — to help you avoid becoming a target during the sales season.
The internet is swarmed with copious imitation online stores, masquerading as genuine retailers. In 2020 alone, hundreds of such fraudulent sites were detected even a month before the sales! This year, the number has surged to thousands. Remember, these scammers masterfully secure prime positions in search results, making it crucial to scrutinize the sites you shop from.
Black Friday Shopping Checklist:
- Inspect URLs: Fraudulent sites may bear striking resemblance to trusted brands with just a smattering of errors or re-arranged characters. Sites with "sale" in their domain names have been particularly popular this year. Exercise caution!
- Purchase exclusively from verified brands and sites. Just because a site appears on top of search results doesn't imply its safety.
- Examine registration dates: If you're uncertain about an online store, use Whois services to check its registration date. Fraudulent sites often spring up just weeks or a month prior to sales, so it's best to shy away from such sites.
- Demand https protocol: Ensure the site utilizes the https protocol and has a legitimate security certificate — the https symbols and the padlock icon in the address bar. Refrain from entering any personal data on unsecured sites.
- Compare prices: Pay attention to the price comparison among different resources. If a site offers disproportionately generous discounts, be vigilant, as they may be baiting you to share sensitive data, especially your card details. Remember, "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
- Assess the site's details: On fraudulent sites, these details often belong to individual persons, card numbers, or electronic wallets, so it's wise to avoid such sites. Such transactions would inadvertently transfer money to these individuals, making it difficult to reclaim your funds.
- Avoid clicking on links in emails and messages: Always input the address manually! You can't guarantee that the email originated from the store and not a scammer.
- Beware of tech manipulation: Don't fall prey to enticing pop-ups, time-limited offers, or notifications such as "This product is being viewed by XX people." These pressure tactics exploit your emotions. Thoroughly examine the site before entering personal or payment data.
- Tread carefully with email subscriptions: Phishing attempts often succeed through "lucky" emails promising fantastic discounts, lottery draws, or exclusive promotions. Even convincing emails can be deceptive. Thus, it's advisable to avoid clicking on links in messages and emails, as the risk of fake emails is high.
- Keep antivirus software on: Ensure your computer and phone have antivirus software installed to protect against Trojan software, which can enable cybercriminals to empty your bank account.
In essence, the key to bypassing fraudulent online stores is maintaining extreme alertness. Boost your digital literacy to prevent financial losses and enjoy a trouble-free shopping experience. Keep this checklist in mind, as it could save you from financial woes and frustration. As Ilya Loevsky, Deputy Head of Roskachestvo, rightly puts it, the objective of all purchases is joy!
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- During the "Black Friday" sale, be aware that scammers intensify their activities, potentially exploiting our carelessness or lack of digital literacy.
- When shopping online, be wary of imitation stores disguised as reputable merchants, even those with "sale" in their domain names, as an overwhelming number of such fraudulent sites were detected this year.
- To stay safe, verify the sites you purchase from, scrutinize their URLs, purchase exclusively from verified brands, and look for a secure https connection with a legitimate security certificate.
- Remember to exercise caution when encountering generously discounted items or unusual price differences, as these scams often aim to solicit sensitive data, especially card information.
