4 hours Ago By [email protected] (Isobel Pankhurst)
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info As Black Friday approaches, consumers who prefer to do their shopping online are being warned about 'dear customer' emails that could be scammers impersonating reputable brands.
These fraudsters may be presenting bogus discounted deals as bait to trick individuals, with the intent of harvesting sensitive data such as cardholder details, authentication data, and personal identification information. All this data puts you at great risk of a security breach, with the ultimate aim of these scammers being to snatch any financial info input during supposed purchases. Yegor Sak, CEO of Control D , has highlighted that scammers often prey on bargain hunters during Black Friday and has outlined key indicators that an email might not be from a genuine brand.
He explained: "To spot phishing, you should check if the sender's email address is slightly altered, watch for generic greetings like 'Dear Customer,' and be cautious of messages that create urgency or threats." He advises: "Hover over any links to ensure they direct you to legitimate sites, avoid clicking on unexpected attachments, and look out for misspellings or grammatical errors. "Generally, legitimate companies won't ask for sensitive information via email, so verify any such requests.
Ensure websites have a proper domain and HTTPS encryption, and always compare the tone and design of the message to previous communications from the company for consistency." Yegor warns that phishing scams have become more insidious and personalised, explaining: "Attackers are now using more sophisticated methods, including personalised phishing (spear phishing) to trick individuals into sharing personal information or transferring money. "Phishing works because it plays on human emotions, such as fear, curiosity, or urgency, and often leverages trust in well-known organizations.
It is important to stay vigilant and protect yourself from being a victim of these attacks.".
