Black Friday Scams: The Traps You Must Avoid This Year
Last year, shoppers lost billions to Black Friday scams. Here’s how to spot the tricks before they catch you.
We all love a good deal — especially those Black Friday ones that feel like you’ve “beaten the system”. The problem is, scammers love Black Friday even more than we do.
Last year, people lost over £9.5 billion to online fraud during the November sales. In the UK alone, there were more than 22,000 Black Friday–related scam reports, with average losses of around £1,000 per person. That’s not “oops, small mistake” money — that’s rent, bills, or Christmas wiped out.
Here’s what really goes wrong during Black Friday, and how to keep your money yours.
1. Fake “Bargain” Shops
Scammers spin up thousands of fake online shops in November, then vanish as soon as the money comes in. Over 3,700 fake retail websites were taken down during Black Friday week alone.
Those “70–90% OFF — TODAY ONLY” deals on high-demand tech and trainers? Almost always bait.
How to stay safe
- Be suspicious of unfamiliar brands offering huge discounts on premium items.
- Check independent reviews and the website’s age before buying.
- Avoid bank transfers — use a card or PayPal for protection.
2. Dodgy Delivery Texts
Black Friday means parcels everywhere — which scammers use as cover for fake “delivery fee” or “address issue” texts. Royal Mail and DPD–themed scams jumped by over 120% last year.
Most of these links lead straight to phishing pages designed to steal your card details.
How to stay safe
- Don’t tap links in texts, no matter how convincing they look.
- Check your genuine orders by visiting the retailer’s website or app directly.
3. Social Media “Shops” That Disappear
Instagram, TikTok and Facebook fill up with “must-have” deals — and scammers buy those ad slots too. Meta removed around 1.2 million scam adverts in November alone last year.
Nearly 1 in 4 complaints involved purchases made through social media.
How to stay safe
- Be wary of brand-new pages with hardly any followers or history.
- Check they have a real website, contact details, and returns information — not just a checkout link.
4. Fake Order Confirmation Emails
You get an email: “Thanks for your order” — for something you never bought. That panic is exactly what scammers want. Amazon-style phishing emails can jump by 200% during Black Friday week.
The “view order” or “cancel now” buttons often lead to fake login pages designed to steal your credentials.
How to stay safe
- Don’t click the button inside the email.
- Open the retailer’s website or app yourself and check your actual order history.
5. “Support” That Wants Remote Access
Scammers impersonate Amazon, Apple, your bank or even your broadband provider and claim there’s an account issue. Then they ask you to install tools like AnyDesk or TeamViewer so they can “help”. Remote-access scams cost UK victims £57 million last year.
How to stay safe
- No legitimate retailer or delivery company needs remote access to your device — ever.
- If anyone asks you to install remote-control software, hang up and call the company using a verified number.
How ScamAvert Helps
Even when you know all of this, scammers are very good at catching you at the wrong moment — when you’re tired, rushing, or in “bargain-hunting mode”.
- Watches for risky websites, fake pop-ups and phishing pages.
- Spots remote-access tricks and suspicious downloads.
- Checks your chat messages and screenshots for social-engineering scams.
- Gives you clear, instant warnings when something doesn’t look right.
You can create a free account and get protected in just a few minutes. Download ScamAvert and keep yourself — and your loved ones — safer this Black Friday and beyond.