Security researchers at Bitdefender warn consumers that 77% of Black Friday-themed spam emails in 2024 have been identified as scams. This represents a 7% rise in the proportion of spam emails identified as scams compared to Black Friday 2023, and a 21% increase compared to 2022. The researchers noted that these scams are primarily designed to either gather victims’ personal data, such as login credentials and banking information or directly steal their money via fake purchases or using banking trojans. There are ways to avoid falling victim to Black Friday Scams. One should verify sources and double-check email sender addresses and website URLs for legitimacy. One should visit retailer websites directly instead of clicking unsolicited links. One should use security tools to help verify suspicious links and emails, and lastly, one should be cautious of surveys. Treat surveys claiming rewards or deals with skepticism unless verified as legitimate.
Infosecurity Magazine reports: "Three-Quarters of Black Friday Spam Emails Identified as Scams"