Top 5 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Scams You Must Avoid

Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring big deals and bigger scams. Learn how to spot fake online stores, phishing emails, and social media ad traps before you buy. This guide shows you how to check if a website is legit, avoid AI-powered shopping scams, and protect your money when shopping online.

1. How to Spot Fake Online Shopping Websites

Scammers create fake stores that look identical to real ones. Once you pay, they disappear.

Watch for:

• Unrealistic discounts (like 70% off everything)
• Misspelled domains such as amaz0n.com or nkie.com
• No contact info or return policy
• Gift card or wire transfer payments only
• New websites with no reviews (check whois.com)

Example: “NikeOutletSale.shop” offers $200 shoes for $39 — they never arrive.

2. How to Identify Fake Delivery Emails and Amazon Order Scams

Scammers send messages pretending to be from Amazon, UPS, or USPS.

They want you to click links that steal your login or card details.

Signs of a fake delivery message:

• You never placed the order
• The sender’s email looks odd, like @amaz0n.com
• Generic greeting such as “Dear Customer”
• Links that lead to strange websites

Stay safe:

Do not click links. Go to your real account or official app to check your orders.

3. How to Tell If a Facebook or Instagram Shopping Ad Is Fake

Social media ads are a major scam hotspot during Cyber Monday.

Check for these red flags:

• Brand-new accounts with few followers
• Prices much lower than everywhere else
• “DM to buy” or “Pay outside website” requests
• Stock photos or AI-generated images
• Comments turned off

What to do:
Google the store name with “scam” or “reviews” before buying.