Friday 25th November is Black Friday and Monday 28th November is Cyber Monday, it is a chance for many people to grab a bargain with many leading brands dropping their prices to boost sales before Christmas. But with £billions being made by hot deals that are ‘not to be missed’, cyber criminals can take advantage of the frenzy of communications that are sent out by online retailers, clouding the judgment of consumers.
With the cost-of-living crisis, cyber criminals are capitalising on scams to take your money more than ever before. It’s not hard to see why so many people fall foul to scams as they are becoming more sophisticated so it’s harder to understand if the deal is real or not.
Here are some things to watchout for this Black Friday and Cyber Monday:
- If the deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Think before you click to buy and even ask a friend or relative if they think it’s genuine.
- Watch out for unusual or suspicious emails, phone calls, text messages and websites.
- Always use secure methods of payment.
- Do thorough checks on businesses you’ve never bought from before. Do they have a website, where is their registered office etc.
- Only enter information you need to and avoid setting up accounts where possible.
- Always use a different password for each website and if you need to note it down, keep this information in a safe place and don’t share it with anyone else.
- You may want to consider using a credit card for purchases as it may offer you extra protection.
- Avoid using free unsecure Wi-Fi, particularly in public places as this is where a network could be hacked.
- Contact your bank immediately if you notice any unusual transactions coming out of your bank account.
- A strong password with an added layer of multifactor authentication can help reduce the risk of unauthorised payments being taken out of your account.
Both consumers and businesses are at risk from scams during Black Friday and Cyber Monday but there are many steps you can take to safeguard both your personal and business finances.
Getting certified to Cyber Essentials is a proven way to improve security, and purchase insurance to cover you against cyber enabled crime. For more information about Cyber Essentials click here>>> https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview
For more information about cyber risks associated with Black Friday please call our team on 01905 21681 or email Enquiries@sutcliffeinsurance.co.uk.
