The stores on Black Friday won’t be crowded with just shoppers. Consumers are being warned to watch out for scam artists.
The Scambook, a platform where consumers can try to resolve their complaints, is advising consumers to be on the lookout for these schemes, some of which may be rehashed form last year:
Fake downloadable coupons for, say, Walmart, Target or BestBuy, that really is a phishing expedition to steal your information or install malware on your computer.
A text offering a free $1,000 Best Buy gift card if you enter a code. This was a hot scam last year but might appear this year under Target or Walmart.
Phony videos and eCards that contain computer viruses.
Fake websites that appear like they belong to a legitimate retailer.
Consumers can protect themselves, Scambook says, by making sure they are on a retailer's true website and not one that pops up only around the holidays. When shopping online, create a different password than the usual password you use if you're asked to create an account by a retailer.
Don't open email attachments from unknown senders. Beware of deals that are too good to be true.