The holiday shopping season from Black Friday to Cyber Monday brings a flood of online deals from retailers.
However, not all sites showcasing these bargains are legitimate. Cybersecurity experts warn shoppers to remain vigilant as the number of fake websites increases.
Jeremy Fuchs from Check Point Cyber Security highlights the growing issue.
“These sites are designed to look and feel like your favorite retailer,” he said.
In 2023, there has been an 89% increase in fake retail websites, tripling since 2022, according to Check Point.
Popular retailers like Wayfair and J.Crew have been frequent targets, with scammers adding terms like “Black Friday” to their fake URLs to attract unsuspecting buyers.
Fuchs explains the dangers of interacting with these fake websites.
“What you’re doing is handing over money for the product and then also any credit card information, email information, shipping information, phone number to a hacker on the other side,” he said.
To avoid falling victim, shoppers should carefully inspect website details.
Look for common signs of a scam, such as misspellings in URLs or banners.
For example, a fake Wayfair site might spell the name as “Wayfare,” and banners could contain grammatical errors like “we free shipping.”
Emails are another tool scammers use to lure shoppers.
Fraudulent emails often look like they come from trusted retailers.
Shoppers are advised to preview emails by holding down on the message to check the sender’s address.
If the sender’s email doesn’t match the retailer’s domain, it’s likely fake.
As the shopping frenzy continues, the message is clear: stay alert, don’t fall for the scheme, and don’t get ripped off, but if you do, email me at LBolden@WKMG.com.