The Investigator Newsletter
Volume 14 | Issue 1 & 2
November 25th, 2022
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday being just right around
the corner, shoppers need to become aware of the potential
fraudulent threats that might be coming their way. In 2021,
approximately $20 billion was spent online between Black
Friday and Cyber Monday. The abundance of budget conscious shoppers getting ready for the holidays also comes with cyber-criminals getting ready to attack. According to the Better Business Bureau, 35% of fraud reports in 2021 came from online scams.
In this newsletter, BCSI is here to inform you about a few types of Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams and how to avoid them!
The Fake Order Scam
- With most people having multiple online orders in transit during the holiday season, scammers may attempt to slip into your mailbox or text messages by sending you fake order confirmation links or downloadable attachments. These attachments will try to get you to download malware or visit a fake website, ultimately stealing your personal information.
- Although keeping tabs on your orders may get tricky, the best way to avoid these types of scams is to go directly to the official website from which you purchased your orders instead of clicking on any links or attachments!
Browser Extensions
- During the holiday season, there tends to be an overflow of downloadable “money-saving” browser extensions, which are offered and targeted toward online shoppers looking for great blowout deals! Although some are legitimate, many are not. Scammers want you to download their fake browser extensions so that they can use the malicious software hidden inside to phish out your data.
- If you want to download a “money-saving” browser extension, do your research before you go ahead with the download. It is also important to note that most of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals will be largely broadcasted on the front page of a retailer’s website, so there’s no need to download a possibly detrimental browser extension.
Billing Scams
- Scammers will pose as major retailers or banking institutions, contacting you about an “urgent” message/request. These messages tend to claim that an order of yours has not gone through or that your payment information needs updating. Cyber criminals attempt to create a “sense of urgency” in hopes that you will promptly give them your data.
- How can you avoid this? Official businesses will typically never use harsh or urgent language toward you. If you are concerned, it is best to go straight to the official business to ensure that you are not releasing any of your data to scammers.
The “Hot Deal” Scam
- With the hustle and bustle of Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, scammers love to create fake websites and deals. When a popular item is tough to find, cyber criminals may pose as legitimate retailers, or create their own legitimate-looking brands, to lure you in. Once you pay for the goods, you will most likely never receive them, and you have now given your personal information to scammers, who will then use that data to commit further fraud.
- If the deal looks too good to be true, then it most likely is. If you are unsure about an online website, research and read reviews! Additionally, if the webpage or URL looks suspicious, it may be best not to continue with the purchase.
BCSI Investigations | Vancouver | Private Investigator | Firm Profile
If you or anyone you know have been a victim of fraud, please reach out to us for a free consultation with one of our experienced investigators at
604-922-6572 or via email at info@picanada.ca.
