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Black Friday has always been a day of huge deals and exciting discounts. In 2025, shoppers are more excited than ever to grab the best deals. But with the rise of technology, online shopping, and artificial intelligence, scammers are also getting smarter. Falling for a Black Friday scam can cost you money, personal information, or in most cases both. So, it’s important to know how to spot scams before they happen to you.
One of the easiest ways to spot a scam is when a deal looks too good to be true. If a product is offered at 80-90% off or too many products are offered at more than 70% off deals, it’s a red flag. While genuine retailers do provide discounts, unusually low prices on popular or many items are tactic often used by scammers to attract buyers. Always compare prices with official websites or trusted stores before making a purchase.
Before you click “Buy Now,” check the website carefully. Look for signs like a security measures taken by the website, proper contact information, social media presence, detailed policy pages and professional website design. Scammers often create fake sites that look very similar to real ones but have small spelling mistakes or unusual URLs.
Scammers often send phishing emails that look like they’re from popular retailers. These emails may claim “exclusive Black Friday deals” or ask you to verify your account information. They often create a sense of urgency, like limited time offer or claim now, to trick you into acting quickly. Don’t click on links or download attachments from suspicious emails. Always visit the official website directly to verify any deal.
Fake posts on social media are another common trick. Scammers create ads or posts that mimic real brands, showing unbelievable discounts or giveaways. They often use catchy graphics or celebrity images to make the post look authentic. Check if the social media account is verified, read comments, and search for reviews outside the platform before trusting the deal.
In 2025, scammers are increasingly using AI to create realistic videos or posts promoting fake deals. These videos or posts may show influencers (like celebrities) endorsing products, stores showcasing Black Friday offers, or products being unboxed, making the deal look genuine. Don’t trust a video or a post just because it looks real. Always verify the offer on the official retailer’s website or app. AI-generated content can be highly convincing but is often completely fake.
Black Friday scams often ask for unusual payment methods, like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Genuine stores usually accept standard credit/debit cards, PayPal, or trusted digital wallets. If a seller asks you to pay in an unusual way, it’s a warning sign.
Before buying from a new seller, check online reviews, comments, and ratings. Other buyers’ experiences can help you determine whether a deal is genuine or a scam. Look for multiple reviews from different sources, not just on the seller’s website, as scammers often post fake positive reviews. Be especially cautious if a site has an unusually large number of overly positive comments, as these may have been posted by the seller to create a false sense of trust.
Impersonation scams happen when fraudsters pretend to be well-known brands, retailers, or customer support representatives to trick shoppers. They often use fake emails, websites, or social media accounts to steal personal information, payment details, or money. To spot these scams, always check if the email comes from an official company address. If a website claims to belong to a brand, verify whether its domain is genuinely associated with that company. Emails from non-official addresses or websites with domains that don’t match the brand’s official name should be treated with caution, and you should question their authenticity before providing any information.
Check a website’s WHOIS details to see its registration date, as newer websites often carry a higher risk compared to older and established sites.
Many scam websites have spelling and grammar errors, unprofessional design, and often use content copied from other sites. These issues are clear signs that the website may not be trustworthy. So, look for these errors as well.
A mismatch between a website’s name and its domain is often a warning sign that the site may not be trustworthy. Legitimate websites maintain consistency between their brand name and domain, while scam sites deliberately alter them to confuse and mislead buyers.
Many scam websites focus only on a mobile version and don’t bother creating a desktop version. Legitimate websites always have both version, so the absence of a desktop version can be a clear warning sign.
Legitimate websites usually maintain consistent language throughout the site, while scam websites sometimes mix two or more languages, which can be a warning sign.
Always review a platform’s refund policy before making a purchase, as scam websites often have confusing, unreliable, or customer unfriendly policies.
Genuine platforms usually have verified social media accounts, while scam websites often do not display any social media links or provide fake icons. Always check whether a platform links to genuine social media accounts. If it does not, it is a strong reason to be cautious.
Genuine platforms provide verifiable contact information, such as a phone number and company address, while fraudulent sites often omit this information or provide fake details to appear legitimate. The absence of contact information, or the presence of fake details, is a common sign of a scam website.
Black Friday 2025 will be full of exciting offers, but scammers are also ready to take advantage of shoppers using AI-generated content, fake videos, phishing emails, and fraudulent websites. By being careful and little smarter i.e. verifying deals, avoiding unusual payment methods, reviewing platform, reading comments and reviews and staying alert online, you can enjoy a safe and genuine shopping experience.
Always remember: just because any platform looks real doesn’t mean it is, being cautious is way smarter than being sorry.
