Black Friday 'dear customer' scam warning to all online shoppers

Online shopping experts are warning against a new phishing scam that's set to target shoppers this Black Friday

With Black Friday just days away, online shoppers are being warned to watch out for any 'dear customer' emails landing in their inbox, as these could be scammers mimicking legitimate brands.

These scammers may be using fake discounted products as phishing lures to deceive victims, through which they are able to gather shopper's cardholder data, sensitive authentication data, and personally identifiable information.

All of this information can put you and your finances at risk of breach. The scammer's end goal is to capture any sensitive financial information entered by the users as part of fake orders.

Highlighting that these scammers may take advantage of shoppers making the most of Black Friday deals, Yegor Sak, CEO of Control D, has shared some warning signs that an email may not be from a legitimate brand.

He said: "To spot phishing, you should check if the sender’s email address is slightly altered, watch for generic greetings like 'Dear Customer,' and be cautious of messages that create urgency or threats.

"Hover over any links to ensure they direct you to legitimate sites, avoid clicking on unexpected attachments, and look out for misspellings or grammatical errors.

"Generally, legitimate companies won’t ask for sensitive information via email, so verify any such requests. Ensure websites have a proper domain and HTTPS encryption, and always compare the tone and design of the message to previous communications from the company for consistency."

Warning that phishing scams have evolved to become more targeted, Yegor continued: "Attackers are now using more sophisticated methods, including personalized phishing (spear phishing) to trick individuals into sharing personal information or transferring money.

“Phishing works because it plays on human emotions, such as fear, curiosity, or urgency, and often leverages trust in well-known organizations. It is important to stay vigilant and protect yourself from being a victim of these attacks."