Amazon has warned millions of shoppers about Black Friday mistakes that could cost you big money.
An employee has revealed some of the most common ways you could find yourself out of pocket during the big Black Friday sales event on November 29.
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The problem with Black Friday is that it's a great opportunity for scammers to scam innocent shoppers.
One Amazon employee revealed that there are many scams in particular goal Shoppers during the event.
“Amazon is committed to helping consumers avoid impersonation scams,” the employee explained.
“This occurs when a fraudster pretends to be a trusted company and reaches out to try to access sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, banking information, or Amazon account details.”
How to stay safe on Black Friday
Amazon said one of the most common scams involves sending you a message about purchasing a product.
This usually indicates that you have purchased a product and need to confirm some details.
The natural instinct is to click on the link in the email and try to figure out what went wrong – but that's a big mistake.
“If you receive a message about purchasing a product or service, do not reply to the message or click on any link in the message,” Amazon explained.
“Alternatively, log into your Amazon account or use the Amazon mobile app and make sure this is already included in your purchase.” date before taking any action.”
You should also be careful if you receive any message or call asking you to pay.
Usually, you will only be asked to make the payment on Amazon's official website or mobile app.
“We will not contact you and ask you to make a payment or bank transfer on another website,” Amazon said.
The retail giant also warned that scammers often try to create a false sense of urgency to get you to act quickly – and without thinking about it.
Avoid giving in to pressure, especially if you are asked to buy a gift card.
Black Friday safety tips revealed
Here's an official security tip from Paul Bischoff, consumer privacy advocate at Comparitech…
To protect yourself this Black Friday, you should watch out for emails that are too good to be true.
For example, emails with the subject line “90% off everything!” Similar to Amazon or Best Buy.
The email looks perfect, right down to the logo and layout. But here's the rub: Clicking on the “Amazing Deal” link could lead you to a fake website that steals your credit card information.
- Hover over (don't click!) email links to preview the real URL
- Look for misspellings or unusual sender addresses (such as [email protected])
- Type the store's web address directly in your browser instead of clicking on email links
Consumers also need to beware of social media shopping traps. Social media platforms are filled with fake stores during Black Friday, many of which disappear after payment is collected.
Some warning signs to keep in mind are brand new accounts with no customer review, prices that seem impossibly low, poor quality product photos, and pressure tactics like “Only 2 left!” Or “Offer ends in 10 minutes!”
Some smart shopping tips for consumers are:
- Purchase gift cards directly from authorized retailers only
- Never buy “discounted” gift cards from individuals online
- Check gift card balances immediately after purchase
- Keep your receipt until you are sure the card works
- Never send gift cards through the mail
“We will never ask you to purchase a gift card, and no legitimate sale or transaction will require you to pay with gift cards,” Amazon explained.
Being asked to pay with a gift card is a sure sign of a scam that you should never ignore.
Amazon warns that if you're unsure about a message, you should contact them directly.
Do not use contact details sent to you via text or email – they may be fraudulent.
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If customer support asks you to download any files, install an app, or make a payment to get help, you are being scammed.
You should also report any scams to Amazon to help others avoid being scammed as well.
