Black Friday 2024: Lawyer gives tips to protect yourself from major scams and frauds

Black Friday 2024 approaches with an estimated growth of 9% in e-commerce revenue compared to last year, and can reach R$ 9.3 billion, according to data from Neotrust.Confi. However, the increase in online shopping also brings with it the intensification of scams and fraud, which target less attentive consumers or in search of irresistible offers.

The lawyer of the Southern Cone Trademarks and Patents, Dr. Vanessa Albuquerque, warns about the main coup of the moment, the, sites that simulate big brands with a very similar visual identity to attract customers with suspicious discounts. “The consumer needs to be aware of prices that differ drastically from the average and platforms that copy the visual identity of large networks, such as Magalu, but have slightly changed names, such as ‘Malagu’, for example. This practice is commonly used to deceive the consumer and lead to unsafe purchases,” explains.

Among other recurring scams, they also stand out websites that display testimonials and images from international photo banks to simulate credibility. “The use of fake buyer testimonials and generic images on unknown websites is a warning sign.Many consumers are convinced by these visual tactics, without evaluating the provenance of the salesperson”, guides Dr. Vanessa.

In addition to fraudulent websites, other common approaches include:

• Fake SMS and WhatsApp promotions: Messages with malicious links are sent to mobile devices promising incredible discounts. These messages often use links that can compromise the security of user data.
• Discount coupon emails from suspicious senders: Many coupons and offers that simulate reputable companies can arrive by email from accounts like “@gmail.com”, “@hotmail.com” or “@terra.com.br”. However, serious companies use their own domains to send promotional communications.
• Fake profiles on social networks: Scammers invest in ads and stories on social media to promote fake profiles that mimic purchase pages, often with testimonials from alleged customers to give an impression of security.

According to the survey of Opinion Box and Dito, “Purchasing behavior and trends for Black Friday 2024’, the public preference still remains with e-commerce (43%). Right behind appear physical stores and e-commerce (39%), only physical stores (14%) and, finally, purchases only through the company application or WhatsApp (4%).

Considering only e-commerce, the five most visited marketplaces by consumers were: Amazon (55%); Shopee (45%); Mercado Livre (40%); Magazine Luiza (37%); and Americanas (28%). With this, the lawyer advises: “In the virtual environment, it is essential to always check the URL of the sites, be wary of prices far below the market and confirm the authenticity of the seller through the official sites. Prevention and caution are the best defenses against scams at this time of year.”