Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become a goldmine for cybercriminals. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024—a 25%
increase from the prior year—with online shopping scams being the second most commonly reported fraud
category. This year, the attacks are more sophisticated than ever.
But here’s the good news: Most scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can
shop safely and protect yourself from the increasingly clever tactics criminals use.
Whether you’re a consumer hunting for deals or a business owner concerned about employee security during
the shopping frenzy, this guide will help you navigate Black Friday safely.
The Malware Delivery Problem
You see an incredible deal on a brand-name product. You click the link from that promotional email. The
website looks legitimate—logo, product images, even a shopping cart. But something’s wrong: the “deal” isn’t
loading, or the page redirects oddly.
**Here’s what you don’t see:**
Malware silently installing on your device.
Modern Black Friday scams have evolved beyond simple fake storefronts. Today’s attackers use
sophisticated phishing campaigns that deliver malware through drive-by downloads—malicious software that
installs simply by visiting a compromised website, without any additional clicks or downloads.
Recent Black Friday campaigns have seen cybercriminals sending millions of promotional emails for nonexistent
“flash sales.” Victims who click these links find themselves on fake retail sites that appear legitimate
but are actually malware delivery systems. The malware remains dormant for days, then activates to steal
banking credentials, monitor keystrokes, and access corporate networks for employees shopping on work
devices.
The damage? Compromised banking information, stolen identities, and in several cases, complete network
breaches at small businesses whose employees clicked links on company laptops.
How it works:
– Email or social media ad promises extreme discounts (80-90% off luxury brands)
– Creates urgency: “Only 3 left!” or “Sale ends in 15 minutes!”
– Links to convincing fake websites
– Collects payment information (which criminals then use or sell)
– May also install malware for long-term exploitation
Red flags:
– Prices that are unrealistically low compared to market rates
– Poor grammar or spelling in marketing materials
– Pressure tactics and artificial scarcity
– URL that doesn’t match the brand (e.g., “amaz0n-deals.net” instead of “amazon.com”)
– No verifiable company contact information
How it works:
– Email arrives claiming to be from FedEx, UPS, USPS
– States there’s a problem with delivery or requires action
– Links to “tracking page” or “update delivery preferences”
– Actually delivers credential-stealing malware or ransomware
Red flags:
– You weren’t expecting a package
– Generic greetings (“Dear Customer” instead of your name)
– Urgent tone demanding immediate action
– Suspicious sender email address (hover to see actual address)
– Attachment or link to “view package details”
How it works:
– Criminals breach legitimate retailer databases
– Use stolen credentials to make purchases on your existing accounts
– Change shipping addresses or add new payment methods
– You don’t notice until charges appear on your statement
Red flags:
– Unexpected password reset emails
– Account activity notifications you didn’t initiate
– Orders you didn’t place
– Changed account details
How it works:
– You encounter an issue with a legitimate purchase
– Google “customer service” for the retailer
– Call a number or click a link to a fake support site
– “Support agent” requests remote access or payment information
– Malware installed or credentials stolen
Red flags:
– Customer service number doesn’t match official website
– Request for remote desktop access
– Asking for full credit card numbers or SSN
– Pressure to act immediately without verification
Never click links in promotional emails directly.
Instead:
– Type the retailer’s URL directly into your browser
– Use official mobile apps
– Search for the company name and visit their site independently
– Bookmark your favorite retailers to avoid typosquatting domains
Pro tip: Enable link preview features in your email client to see the actual URL destination before clicking.
Criminals register domains that look almost identical to legitimate sites:
– Legitimate: amazon.com
– Fake: amaz0n.com, amazzon.com, amazon-deals.net
Look for:
– HTTPS (padlock icon) – but remember, scammers can get SSL certificates too
– Correct spelling of the domain name
– Legitimate top-level domain (.com, not .net or .biz for major retailers)
Red flag: Extra words or numbers in the domain that don’t belong
Why this matters: Credit cards offer significantly better fraud protection than debit cards. If your credit
card is compromised, you’re typically liable for $0-$50. If your debit card is compromised, money comes
directly from your bank account.
Better yet: Use virtual credit card numbers or payment services like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay that
mask your actual card details.
Set up MFA on all shopping accounts, especially:
– Major retailers (Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.)
– Payment services (PayPal, Venmo)
– Banking and credit card accounts
Why: Even if criminals steal your password, they can’t access your account without the second factor.
Never shop using:
– Public WiFi at coffee shops, airports, or hotels
– Unsecured networks without passwords
– Shared computers at libraries or hotels
If you must use public WiFi:
– Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your connection
– Never access banking or make purchases without VPN protection
– Consider using your phone’s cellular data instead
During Black Friday week:
– Check bank and credit card statements daily
– Enable transaction alerts via text or email
– Review account activity on retailer websites
– Set up credit monitoring alerts
Early detection is critical. The faster you spot fraudulent activity, the less damage criminals can do.
Found a great deal from a store you’ve never heard of?
Do this first:
– Google “[Store Name] reviews” and “[Store Name] scam”
– Check Better Business Bureau ratings
– Look for physical address and phone number on their site
– Search for the company on Trustpilot or similar review sites
– Verify they have legitimate social media presence with actual engagement
Red flag: Brand new website with no online presence or reviews
Facebook Marketplace, Instagram ads, and TikTok shops are increasingly common attack vectors.
Before buying:
– Verify the seller’s profile history and reviews
– Be suspicious of newly created accounts
– Never wire money or use payment methods that can’t be reversed
– Meet in person for local deals (in public, safe locations)
Remember: Social media platforms offer limited purchase protection compared to established ecommerce
sites.
Before Black Friday shopping:
– Update your operating system (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
– Update your web browser
– Update antivirus/anti-malware software
– Enable automatic security updates
Why: Criminals exploit known vulnerabilities. Updates patch these security holes.
If something feels off, it probably is. Common gut feelings that should make you pause:
– Deal seems impossibly good
– Website looks slightly “off” or unprofessional
– Excessive urgency or pressure tactics
– Requests for unusual information
– Poor customer service or communication
When in doubt, walk away.
No deal is worth compromising your security.
Your employees will shop during work hours. It’s inevitable. And when they do, they may:
– Use company devices to browse deals
– Click malicious links on work computers
– Connect company laptops to unsecured networks at home
– Inadvertently provide corporate credentials on phishing sites.
According to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report, 46% of all cyber breaches impact businesses
with fewer than 1,000 employees, and according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 43% of cyberattacks
specifically target small businesses.
1. Pre-Black Friday Security Training
– Brief employees on current phishing tactics
– Remind them to only shop on personal devices
– Review acceptable use policies
– Share this guide with your team
2. Technical Controls– Implement email filtering to catch phishing attempts
– Block access to known malicious domains
– Restrict personal email access on work devices
– Ensure endpoint protection is updated on all devices
3. Network Segmentation
– Separate guest WiFi from corporate networks
– Limit what work-from-home devices can access
– Implement zero-trust network architecture
4. Incident Response Readiness
– Have a plan for suspected compromises
– Know who to contact if breach occurs
– Maintain offline backups of critical data
– Document your incident response procedures
Clicked on a suspicious link? Here’s your immediate action plan:
1. Disconnect from the Internet
If you suspect malware installation, disconnect your device immediately to prevent data exfiltration or spread.
2. Document Everything
– Screenshot any suspicious pages (if still available)
– Note the exact time and date
– Save any emails or messages involved
– Record what you clicked and what happened
3. Change Your Passwords
Important: Do this from a DIFFERENT, clean device. Don’t use the potentially compromised device to
change passwords.
Change passwords for:
– Email accounts
– Banking and financial accounts
– Shopping accounts where payment info is stored
– Any account you accessed recently
4. Contact Your Bank
– Report potential fraud immediately
– Place fraud alerts on credit cards
– Consider temporary card freezes
– Monitor for unauthorized transactions
5. Run Security Scans
If you have antivirus/anti-malware software, run a full system scan. However, understand that sophisticated
malware may evade detection.
Contact a cybersecurity firm immediately if:
– You used a work device
– You entered corporate credentials on a suspicious site
– You suspect malware installation but scans show nothing
– You notice unusual system behavior (slow performance, unexpected pop-ups, disabled security software)
– Financial accounts show unauthorized activity
– You’re a business owner and an employee was compromised
Why professional help matters: Modern malware is sophisticated. What appears to be a simple phishing
attempt may be:
– Advanced persistent threat (APT) designed to evade detection
– Ransomware with delayed activation
– Credential harvester sending data to command-and-control servers
– Keylogger capturing everything you type
– Backdoor providing ongoing access to your network
What Happens Next
If you’ve been compromised, professional incident response follows a systematic approach:
What it is: Capturing a complete, forensically sound image of your system before any remediation occurs.
Why it matters:
– Preserves evidence for potential legal action
– Allows thorough analysis without alerting attackers
– Enables recovery of deleted files or hidden malware
– Documents the full extent of compromise
What it is: Deep technical analysis of any malicious software found on your system.
What you learn:
– Exactly what the malware does
– What data it accessed or exfiltrated
– Whether it’s still communicating with attackers
– How to remove it completely
– Whether other systems are at risk
What it includes:
– Timeline reconstruction of the attack
– Identification of all compromised accounts and systems
– Assessment of data that may have been stolen
– Analysis of attack methods and entry points
– Documentation for insurance claims or legal proceedings
Immediate actions:
– Complete malware removal
– System restoration from clean backups (if available)
– Password resets and credential management
– Network segmentation to prevent spread
Long-term hardening:
– Vulnerability assessment and patching
– Security control implementation
– Monitoring and detection systems
– Employee security awareness training
Ongoing protection includes:
– Regular security assessments
– Continuous monitoring for threats
– Incident response plan development
– Staff training programs
– Compliance with security frameworks
What happened: An employee shopping on their work laptop clicked a Black Friday deal email. The link
installed ransomware that remained dormant for 5 days, then encrypted the company’s entire file server over
a weekend.
Professional response:
– Immediate forensic imaging of all potentially affected systems
– Malware analysis to determine ransomware variant
– Assessment of backup integrity
– Negotiation strategy development (if needed)
– System restoration from clean backups
– Network hardening to prevent reinfection
Outcome: Company recovered with minimal data loss. Investigation revealed the attack chain, allowing
them to implement controls preventing future incidents.
What happened: Small business owner clicked a fake “Amazon” link for business supplies. Entered
corporate email credentials on the phishing site. Within hours, attackers accessed email, reset passwords for
banking and cloud storage, and attempted wire transfers.
Professional response:
– Immediate investigation to determine scope of access
– Forensic acquisition of email account activity
– Analysis of all accessed systems and data
– Coordination with financial institutions
– Legal documentation for fraud claims
– Implementation of MFA and security controls
Outcome: Transfers were stopped. However, investigation revealed the attackers had accessed customer
data, triggering breach notification requirements.
What happened: Executive clicked a fake shipping notification. No obvious signs of compromise, but IT
noticed subtle network anomalies weeks later—unusual outbound traffic patterns and failed login attempts.
Professional response:
– Network traffic analysis and threat hunting
– Endpoint detection and forensic examination
– Identification of sophisticated spyware designed to steal corporate intelligence
– Complete environment scan for lateral movement
– Remediation and network restructuring
Outcome: Discovered ongoing corporate espionage operation. Complete security overhaul prevented
further data loss.
If you suspect you’ve been compromised and need immediate professional help, specialized incident
response services can:
Provide 24/7 emergency response for active attacks
Conduct forensic investigations to determine what happened
Perform malware analysis to understand the threat
Guide you through legal and compliance requirements (like NY SHIELD Act breach notifications)
Help you recover and harden your systems against future attacks.
For NYC businesses specifically dealing with data breaches, DataGuard specializes in rapid incident response, forensic analysis, and compliance guidance for local SMBs navigating
NY’s strict data breach notification requirements.
When to call: Don’t wait to see if things get worse. Early professional intervention significantly reduces
damage, costs, and recovery time.
Key takeaways:
– Verify every deal before clicking
– Use secure payment methods and networks
– Enable multi-factor authentication everywhere
– Monitor accounts obsessively during shopping season
– Trust your instincts when something seems off
– Have an incident response plan ready
For businesses: One employee click can compromise your entire organization. According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024—a
10% increase from 2023. Invest in prevention through training, technical controls, and having professional
support ready when—not if—an incident occurs.
Remember: The best defense against Black Friday scams is informed vigilance. Share this guide with
colleagues, friends, and family. The more people who know how these scams work, the less effective they
become.
If you’re concerned about a potential compromise or want to improve your security posture before the
holiday shopping season:
Arkadian Cybersecurity provides comprehensive security services for NYC businesses:
– Incident Response: 24/7 emergency response for active threats
– Digital Forensics: Complete investigation and evidence preservation
– Malware Analysis: Deep technical analysis of threats
– Security Training: Employee awareness programs
– Preventive Security: Hardening and compliance services
Emergency Response Hotline: +1 (929) 535 3509
Email: sales@arkadiancybersecurity.com
For rapid incident response and breach notification support: dataguard.nyc
1. Federal Trade Commission (2024).“New FTC Data Show a Big Jump in Reported Losses to Fraud to $12.5 Billion in 2024“
2. IBM Security (2024) “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024“
3. U.S. Small Business Administration (2023) “Cyber Safety Tips for Small Business Owners“
4. Verizon (2024) “Data Breach Investigations Report“
5. Pew Research Center (2025) “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today“
6. Mastercard (2024) “Ecommerce Fraud Trends and Statistics Merchants Need to Know“
Stay safe this Black Friday. Shop smart, stay vigilant, and protect what matters.
Have questions about Black Friday security? Drop them in the comments below, and our team will provide
expert guidance.