Black Friday 2025 represents the most dangerous shopping season in cybercrime history, with fraudsters leveraging artificial intelligence, deepfake technology, and sophisticated social engineering tactics to target millions of consumers globally.
Recent cybersecurity research indicates that scam websites surged 89% year-over-year, while phishing attacks account for 42% of Black Friday-specific threats, with 32% specifically targeting digital wallets and payment systems.
As transaction volumes explode during the holiday shopping period, cybercriminals exploit consumer urgency and reduced vigilance to harvest personal data, financial credentials, and cryptocurrency assets at an unprecedented scale.
This comprehensive security research article examines the ten most prevalent Black Friday scams currently targeting online shoppers, providing security professionals, content creators, and consumers with forensic-level analysis of each threat vector.
From clone websites using lookalike domains and AI-powered deepfake videos impersonating celebrity influencers to QR code fraud (“quishing”), cryptocurrency payment scams, and charity exploitation campaigns, this guide dissects the technical methodologies, psychological manipulation tactics, and attack infrastructure behind modern Black Friday fraud schemes.
Beyond threat identification, this article delivers actionable detection strategies, red flag indicators, and multi-layered defense protocols to help readers recognize and avoid these attacks.
Whether you’re developing security awareness content, conducting threat intelligence research, or protecting your personal finances, understanding these ten scam categories and their detection mechanisms is essential for navigating Black Friday 2025 safely while maintaining operational security and data integrity.
10 Popular Black Friday Scams
Fake Shopping Websites and Spoofed Domains
Scammers create counterfeit online stores that closely mimic well-known retailers by cloning logos, product photos, and website layouts. These fraudulent sites use lookalike domain names with subtle variations, such as “be5tbuy.com” instead of “bestbuy.com” or “rc$.co.za” instead of “rcs.co.za”. Once shoppers enter payment details on fake checkout pages, attackers harvest credit card information and personal data for identity theft.
Red Flags: URL misspellings, absence of HTTPS security protocols, missing “About” or “Contact” pages, and unrealistic discount offers. The SilkSpecter threat actor group has been particularly active, creating phishing domains using top-level domains like .top, .shop, .store, and .vip to impersonate brands such as IKEA, The North Face, and Wayfair.
Phishing and Smishing Campaigns
Fraudsters distribute emails and SMS messages impersonating trusted retailers, banks, or delivery services, claiming urgent account verification is required. These messages contain malicious links leading to credential-harvesting sites designed to steal login credentials and financial information. Phishing attacks account for 42% of Black Friday threats, with 32% specifically targeting digital wallets.
Red Flags: Generic greetings instead of personalized names, spelling mistakes, urgent language like “Only 10 minutes left” or “Your account will be closed,” and sender addresses that don’t match official brand domains.
QR Code Fraud (Quishing)
QR code scams have emerged as a significant threat during Black Friday 2025. Attackers place fraudulent QR codes on posters, emails, social media posts, and even overlay legitimate codes in public spaces such as parking meters. Scanning these codes redirects victims to malicious websites that install malware or phishing pages that steal credentials.
Red Flags: QR codes in unsolicited emails, codes on physical stickers that appear tampered with, and urgent promotional offers requiring immediate QR code scanning. Security experts recommend manually typing URLs rather than scanning unknown QR codes.
AI-Powered Deepfake Scams
Artificial intelligence has enabled criminals to create hyper-realistic deepfake videos and audio impersonating CEOs, influencers, and celebrities. In one documented case, a Fortune 500 retailer lost 40,000 customer records in 48 hours after AI-generated deepfake videos of their CEO promoted a fraudulent mobile app. Scammers synthesized content from Taylor Swift’s public appearances to falsely advertise Le Creuset giveaways, costing victims thousands of dollars.
Red Flags: Celebrity endorsements for deals that seem too generous, executive announcements not found on official company channels, and promotional videos with slightly unnatural speech patterns or facial movements.
Fake Social Media Advertisements
Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are flooded with fraudulent ads mimicking legitimate brands with deep discounts. These ads use stolen branding, fake reviews generated by bots, and direct users to counterfeit stores. Scammers employ sophisticated tactics to evade platform detection, including frequently changing account names and using URL shorteners.
Red Flags: Deals offering 70-90% discounts on luxury items, unverified seller accounts, recently created profiles with few followers, and pressure to complete purchases quickly.
Fake Delivery Notifications
Scammers exploit the high volume of expected packages by sending fake emails and texts impersonating carriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. These messages claim delivery issues exist and prompt recipients to click tracking links that lead to phishing sites or malware downloads.
Red Flags: Unexpected delivery notifications for items you didn’t order, requests for payment information to “finalize” delivery (legitimate carriers never ask for payment details this way), and tracking numbers that don’t work on official carrier websites.
Counterfeit Products and Marketplace Fraud
Fraudsters post listings on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay for high-demand branded goods at unrealistic prices. These counterfeit products often mimicking luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or mass-market brands like Nike and Adidas are either never delivered or arrive as extremely poor-quality replicas.
Red Flags: Prices significantly below retail value, sellers with no transaction history, requests to communicate outside platform messaging systems, and refusal to use platform payment protections.
Gift Card Scams and Fake Vouchers
Scammers distribute fake coupons and vouchers through email and social media, promising unbelievable discounts or free gift cards. Some fraudulent sites claim to offer gift card generators, which instead install clipboard-monitoring malware that steals cryptocurrency wallet addresses. Gift card fraud is particularly prevalent because large purchases during holidays appear less suspicious.
Red Flags: Offers for discounted gift cards from unofficial sources, requests to pay with gift cards (a common scammer tactic), and emails claiming you’ve won gift cards from contests you didn’t enter.
Fake Charity and Donation Scams
Cybercriminals exploit holiday generosity by creating fraudulent charity campaigns with emotional appeals. The FTC reported a 30% surge in charity scams during December, with scammers impersonating legitimate organizations or creating fake disaster relief funds. These false charities use real-sounding names and professional-looking websites to deceive donors.
Red Flags: Unsolicited donation requests via email or social media, pressure to donate immediately, vague descriptions of how funds will be used, and inability to verify the charity through watchdog organizations like CharityWatch.
Cryptocurrency Payment Scams
Fraudulent stores offer “exclusive discounts” for cryptocurrency payments, then disappear with digital assets. Black Friday attracts crypto scams, including phishing attacks targeting wallet credentials, fake investment opportunities promising unrealistic returns, and malicious apps with OCR capabilities that scan device photos for cryptocurrency recovery phrases.
Red Flags: Retailers suddenly accepting only cryptocurrency, investment opportunities promising guaranteed high returns during Black Friday, and apps requesting photo library access without legitimate reasons.
How to Detect Scam Websites: Quick Reference Guide
Step 1: Check the URL
Look for misspellings (amaz0n.com), unusual domain extensions (.shop, .top), and extra characters. Hover over links to preview the actual destination.
Step 2: Verify HTTPS & SSL Certificate
Ensure the padlock icon appears and URL starts with “https://”. Click the padlock to verify the certificate is from a recognized Certificate Authority like DigiCert or Let’s Encrypt.
Step 3: Examine Website Quality
Check for spelling errors, poor image quality, inconsistent design, and excessive pop-ups. These indicate fraudulent operations.
Step 4: Verify Contact Information
Look for a complete “Contact Us” page with physical address, phone number, and professional email. Test by calling or emailing to confirm legitimacy.
Step 5: Research Domain Age
Use WHOIS lookup tools (ICANN, Who.is, or GoDaddy WHOIS) to check when the domain was registered. Domains under six months old warrant extra scrutiny.
Step 6: Check Online Reviews
Search for “[website name] + scam” or check Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau. Verify social media presence with verified badges and genuine engagement.
Step 7: Use Security Tools
Run the URL through Google Safe Browsing, VirusTotal, ScamAdviser, or APIVoid for threat detection.
Step 8: Evaluate Pricing
Compare prices across legitimate retailers. Deals offering 70-90% off luxury items or everything are red flags.
Step 9: Check Payment & Return Policies
Verify secure payment methods and HTTPS checkout. Legitimate sites accept credit cards and have clear return policies. Avoid sites requiring only wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
Step 10: Trust Your Instincts
If multiple red flags appear or something feels wrong, leave the website immediately.
If You Find a Scam: Document evidence and report to FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), IC3 (ic3.gov), or Google Safe Browsing.
Protection Strategies
To safeguard against these threats, security researchers recommend implementing multiple layers of defense. Enable two-factor authentication on all shopping accounts and use strong, unique passwords.
Verify deals directly through official retailer websites rather than clicking email or social media links. Use credit cards instead of debit cards for additional fraud protection, and consider virtual card numbers for online purchases. Install reputable security software and keep all devices updated with the latest patches.
Before making purchases, verify website legitimacy by checking for HTTPS protocols, reading customer reviews from independent sources, and researching sellers through the Better Business Bureau.
For charitable giving, research organizations through trusted watchdog sites and donate directly through official websites rather than responding to unsolicited requests.
Black Friday 2025 presents unprecedented cybersecurity challenges as scammers leverage AI, deepfakes, and sophisticated social engineering tactics.
The convergence of high transaction volumes, consumer urgency, and advanced fraud techniques creates optimal conditions for exploitation.
By recognizing these ten prevalent scams and their associated red flags, shoppers can make informed decisions and protect their financial and personal data.
Vigilance, verification, and skepticism toward deals that seem too good to be true remain the most effective defenses against Black Friday fraud. As cybercriminals continue evolving their tactics, staying informed about emerging threats and maintaining rigorous security practices becomes essential for safe holiday shopping.
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