Black Friday online safety tips: Check before you click! If it's too good to be true, leave it!
It's that time of the year again when criminals are working even harder to scam unsuspecting shoppers.
Photo: Pixabay/un-perfekt
Gugs Mhlungu spoke to Standard Bank’s Head of Digital and E-commerce, Dr Belinda Rathogwa.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
It's that time of year again when we are bombarded with Black Friday deals.
"When Black Friday started, it was one day in the year where people would be looking for deals then it extended to include Cyber Monday - so that was a weekend- and now we're seeing throughout the month retailers are offering deals, so much so that some people are calling it Black November."
- Dr Belinda Rathogwa, Standard Bank’s Head of Digital and E-commerce
This is also the period when criminals are working even harder to scam unsuspecting shoppers.
Rathogwa says from a banking perspective, they have seen a trend where more people are choosing to shop online.
"...For example, last year's Black Friday we saw a 17% growth in the number of people that were buying online compared to the previous period and so this tells us that more and more people are choosing the convenience of online shopping rather than going from mall to mall, shop to shop, looking for that deal."
- Dr Belinda Rathogwa, Standard Bank’s Head of Digital and E-commerce
Online shopping might be convenient but it requires a lot of vigilance, especially during this time.
Rathogwa provides some tips to protect yourself from Black Friday cyber security threats:
Confirm before making a purchase
Buy only from trusted and verified sources. Read transaction details carefully and ensure that any OTP generated is for that specific transaction.
Verify before you pay
Double-check beneficiary account details before making any electronic transfers.
Stay Private
Avoid using public computers, public Wi-Fi, or someone else's phone to access your online banking.
Avoid clicking on links
Found a voucher or a discounted deal with a link? Don’t be tempted to click on that link, especially if it leads you to your online banking profile. Only fraudsters will send you links that direct you to your banking profile and request you to enter your login credentials.
Manage Your Devices
For your safety, delink any unused, sold, lost, or stolen devices from your online banking profile. Notify your bank immediately if your device is lost or stolen.
"Links, be cautious before clicking. Make sure that when you go onto a website, you verify who you are dealing with - including checking the web address at the top... If the deal seems too good to be true, think twice before you go for it because it must still make sense for the retailer."
- Dr Belinda Rathogwa, Standard Bank’s Head of Digital and E-commerce
"If you suspect that you have fallen prey to a suspicious transaction, don't waste time, contact your bank immediately to report it...so that the bank can see if they are able to prevent the transaction from proceeding on their side."
- Dr Belinda Rathogwa, Standard Bank’s Head of Digital and E-commerce
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.