Black Friday is one of the most anticipated moments on the commercial calendar, both for customers and businesses, with promises of irresistible offers and exponential sales growth. However, what many do not realize is that, in addition to opportunities, this period also brings a significant increase in scams and frauds, affecting not only buyers but also the companies themselves.
Although consumers are often seen as the main victims, companies suffer profound consequences that go beyond revenue loss. A scam can tarnish reputation, generate distrust among customers, and significantly increase operational costs.
According to a survey by ClearSale, in 2022, more than 40,000 fraudulent orders were recorded during Black Friday. In 2023, the loss exceeded R$ 10 million. Another survey by Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company, pointed to over 30 million attacks focused on online shopping, payment systems, and banking institutions in the same year.
This scenario shows that both sides are in the criminals' sights.
Most common Black Friday scams
With the increase in transactions and the fast-paced online shopping environment, digital criminals take the opportunity to carry out various types of scams. The most common include
- Pharming: Redirects traffic from legitimate websites to fake websites, tricking customers into entering personal and financial data on these pages.
- PhishingUse of forged emails or messages to steal consumers' information. Companies may see their name used in attacks, damaging their reputation.
- PIX scam and machine scam: Frauds involving popular payment methods, especially those that offer fast transactions and often without double verification.
How to protect your business
With this challenging scenario, it is essential that companies adopt robust preventive measures to mitigate risks during Black Friday, such as:
- Strengthen digital security: Invest in protection systems such as SSL encryption, two-factor authentication and constant monitoring of suspicious transactions.
- Educate consumers: Use your communication channels to alert your customers about the risks of fraud and how to identify it.
- Train the teamWell-trained employees are essential for quickly identifying and responding to suspicious activities. Customer service should also be trained to handle these situations efficiently.
- Monitor transactions in real timeFraud detection tools, such as those offered by cybersecurity companies, can identify anomalous behaviors and prevent them before they harm the business.
Black Friday offers great opportunities to increase sales and attract new customers, but it is a high-risk period for fraud. Protecting your company is a priority, both to avoid financial losses and to maintain your customers' trust. Prevention is always the best way, and investing in safety and education increases the chances of overcoming this challenging scenario.
