Black Friday, one of the most anticipated dates in global commerce, originated in the United States but quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. In 2023, the Brazilian retail sector registered a revenue of R$ 6.1 billion during the event, representing a 16% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from Ebit/Nielsen. The growth is not only in sales volume but also in the number of online consumers: around 85% of connected Brazilians stated they intended to take advantage of the event’s offers, according to a Google survey.
Herein lies the danger. With tempting offers and attractive promotions, the date also attracts digital criminals who take advantage of the increased online traffic to perpetrate fraud, steal personal and financial data, and deceive unsuspecting buyers. Recently, NordVPN, a global leader in cybersecurity, conducted a survey with 1,000 Brazilians aged 18 to 74, revealing that WhatsApp was identified as the primary channel for scams, with 81% of respondents having experienced a fraud attempt in the past two years.
According to the findings, older generations and men were the most vulnerable to scams involving fake online stores or fraudulent products. On the other hand, members of generations Y and X were more likely to receive fake job offers, emphasizing the need for increased attention in digital environments.
Among the most frequent scams, receiving fake links to login pages was pointed out as the main problem, with 47% of Generation X participants (ages 44 to 59) being affected, followed by Baby Boomers (ages 60 to 74) with 41%. Women, in particular, were heavily targeted by this type of scam, with 43% of respondents reporting receiving fake links, compared to 39% of men.
In addition, scams involving fraudulent online stores or fake products also stood out, affecting 47% of Generation X individuals and 37% of Baby Boomers. Men (37%) reported being more affected by this type of fraud than women (32%).
Scams through fake calls or messages from clients, technical support centers, or banks were also widely mentioned. About 37% of Baby Boomers fell for this type of scam, followed by 31% of younger generations. In addition to the mentioned scams, other types such as credit card cloning (20%), fake billets (28%), fraud with coupons and prizes (16%), and even fake charity donations (15%) were mentioned by a significant portion of respondents, evidencing the wide range of techniques used by criminals to deceive their victims.
And the number of scams tends to increase with the arrival of Black Friday. According to data from Forter, a fraud prevention platform, the number of online transaction scams increases by up to 60% during the shopping season. NordVPN also points out that there is a growth in phishing attempts, on websites and emails, as well as in the distribution of malware focused on capturing discount-hungry consumers.
During Black Friday, cybercriminals take advantage of consumers’ haste to deceive them. Among the most common scams are:
- Phishing: Emails and messages pretending to be from major retailers use fake links, where consumers are directed to fraudulent sites that gather personal information.
- Fake websites: Criminals create websites that mimic real stores, offering products at low prices to attract victims. After the purchase, the products will never be delivered.
- Fake discount coupons: Many scammers offer fake discount coupons to collect personal information or lead consumers to fraudulent pages.
- Payment fraud: Transactions via links or unofficial payment methods are risky. Criminals can divert the payment and the consumer will never receive the product.
Essential precautions when buying online
Before making any online purchase, NordVPN recommends some security measures that can help prevent fraud:
- Use a reliable VPN: NordVPN creates an additional layer of protection by encrypting your connection and preventing hackers from intercepting your personal and financial data.
- Be wary of overly generous promotions: Offers with extremely low prices may be scams. Always check the store’s reputation and look for comments from other consumers.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi when making transactions: Public networks are easy targets for criminals to intercept unprotected information. Prefer secure networks or use a VPN to protect your connection.
- Verify if the site is secure: Prefer sites with the security padlock (HTTPS) and provide clear and reliable contact information.
