How to Safely Shop Online During Black Friday

Black Friday has become a major shopping event in Canada. What used to be mostly an American tradition has turned into several weeks of sales, special promotions and online deals from retailers across the country.

I enjoy finding a good deal, but Black Friday is also a time when I become a little more cautious about where I click and who I give my information to.

With so many emails, social media advertisements and text messages competing for our attention, it can be surprisingly easy to end up on a website that is not what it appears to be.

Here are some simple ways to shop online during Black Friday without letting the excitement of a sale get in the way of common sense.

Start With the Retailer’s Website

If you see an interesting Black Friday deal in an email or on social media, you do not necessarily have to follow the link.

Instead, open your browser and go directly to the retailer’s website.

This is one of my favourite habits when shopping online. If I receive an email telling me that a particular store has a great deal, I would rather find the store myself than take a chance on an unfamiliar link.

Scammers can create websites that look remarkably similar to legitimate retailers. A familiar logo does not necessarily mean you are on the real website.

Check the Website Address

Before entering your name, address, credit card information or password, look at the website address.

Does it match the retailer you intended to visit?

Be cautious if you notice unusual spelling, extra words or a domain name that looks unfamiliar.

A secure connection is important, but seeing HTTPS does not automatically mean a website is legitimate. Scam websites can also use encrypted connections.

The question is not simply whether the site has HTTPS. You also need to make sure you are actually dealing with the retailer you think you are.

Be Careful With Black Friday Emails

Your inbox may become very busy in November.

You might receive emails promising special discounts, early access to sales, gift cards or limited time offers. Most people have become accustomed to promotional emails, which can make it easier for a fraudulent message to blend in.

Do not click a link simply because the email looks professional.

If you are unsure about an offer, go directly to the retailer’s website and look for the promotion there.

Pay attention to the sender’s email address as well. A message that appears to come from a well known company but is actually being sent from an unrelated address deserves some extra caution.

Watch Those Text Messages

Fake delivery messages are another problem during the holiday shopping season.

You may receive a text saying that your package is waiting, your delivery address is incorrect or a small fee needs to be paid before your package can be delivered.

If you are expecting a package, check the order through the retailer’s website or the shipping company’s official website.

Do not automatically click the link in the text message.

A message asking for your credit card information to pay a small delivery fee should be treated particularly carefully.

Be Careful With Social Media Shopping

Social media can be a great place to discover products, but not every advertisement leads to a trustworthy seller.

A product may look fantastic in a Facebook or Instagram advertisement, only for the link to take you to an unfamiliar online store.

Before buying, search for the company independently.

Look for a real website, Canadian contact information if applicable, a clear return policy and information about where the company operates.

I would also be cautious about websites that appear to have appeared overnight just to sell one particular product.

Don’t Let a Countdown Clock Make the Decision

Black Friday websites often use countdown timers and messages such as “Only a few left” or “Sale ends tonight.”

Sometimes these warnings are legitimate. Other times, they are simply designed to make you feel that you need to buy immediately.

If you are spending $200, $500 or more, take a few minutes to investigate before completing the purchase.

You can always come back to the product.

And if the sale really does disappear while you are checking the details, there will almost certainly be another sale somewhere else.

Check the Return Policy

This is particularly important when buying Christmas gifts.

Before placing an order, find out what happens if the product does not work, does not fit or simply is not what you expected.

Look for information about:

• The return period
• Whether sale items are final sale
• Return shipping costs
• Refunds versus store credit
• Restocking fees
• Conditions for returning opened products

A great price is not quite as appealing if returning the item becomes a major headache.

Check the Total Before Paying

The price you see on the product page is not always the final amount you will pay.

Before completing your order, look at the total and check for shipping charges, taxes and other fees.

This is particularly important when buying from a company outside Canada.

An item that initially looks inexpensive can become considerably more expensive once shipping, taxes and other charges are added.

Be Careful About Where You Save Your Credit Card

Many retailers offer to save your payment information for future purchases.

It certainly makes checkout faster, but you do not have to save your credit card details with every online store you use.

For websites you shop at only occasionally, entering the information each time may be worth the extra minute.

It is also a good idea to review old shopping accounts and close accounts you no longer use when possible.

Use Different Passwords

Black Friday is a good reminder to think about your online accounts.

Try not to use the same password for your shopping accounts that you use for email, banking or other important services.

If one website experiences a data breach, criminals may attempt to use stolen usernames and passwords on other websites.

A password manager can make it much easier to use unique passwords without having to remember dozens of them.

If a retailer offers two factor authentication, consider turning it on.

Keep Your Devices Updated

Before doing a lot of holiday shopping, make sure your computer, phone and tablet are up to date.

Operating system, browser and security updates can include important fixes that help protect your device.

If your computer has been telling you that an update is available for weeks, Black Friday might be a good excuse to finally install it.

Be Careful When Using Public Wi Fi

Shopping from your home internet connection is preferable when you are entering payment or other sensitive information.

If you are sitting in a coffee shop, hotel or airport using public Wi Fi, consider waiting until you are back on a trusted connection before making a large purchase.

This is also a good reason to avoid logging into important accounts unnecessarily when using unfamiliar networks.

Keep Your Order Information

Once you have made a purchase, keep the confirmation email and receipt.

If you have ordered a Christmas gift, it can be especially helpful to keep track of the expected delivery date and return deadline.

I also recommend checking your credit card statement after a busy shopping period.

If you notice a transaction you do not recognize, contact your financial institution as soon as possible.

What If You Think You Have Been Scammed?

If you realize that you have entered your credit card information on a suspicious website, do not simply hope that nothing happens.

Contact your credit card company or financial institution and explain what happened. They can tell you what steps to take.

If you entered a password that you also use elsewhere, change it immediately on the affected account and any other account where you used the same password.

Keep copies of emails, receipts and other information connected with the transaction. They may be useful when reporting the problem.

Remember That You Do Not Have to Buy It

Perhaps the best Black Friday shopping advice is to slow down.

A sale can make us feel that we have to act immediately, especially when an advertisement says an offer is ending soon.

Before buying, ask yourself a simple question:

Would I still want this if it wasn’t advertised as a Black Friday deal?

If the answer is no, you may have just saved yourself some money.

My Black Friday Shopping Rule

I have learned that a few extra minutes of checking can be worth it.

I look at the retailer, check the website address, read the return policy and look at the final price before I buy. For more expensive purchases, I also compare prices and check whether the advertised Black Friday discount is really a deal.

For more information about checking the actual value of an Amazon Black Friday promotion, see Black Friday: Amazon Shoppers Warned About Deals.

Black Friday can be a great time to shop, but you do not have to rush. Take your time, check where your money is going and remember that a deal is not a deal if it leaves you with a problem afterward.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional financial or cybersecurity advice. If you believe your financial or personal information has been compromised, contact your financial institution and the appropriate authorities promptly.