Black Week is a period when we can find many attractive offers and save a lot of money. However, along with opportunities, there are also threats from cybercriminals. Here are some important rules to remember to shop safely online during Black Week:
1. Verify the credibility of the seller
Before making a purchase, always carefully check the seller's details. Verify their contact information, place of business registration, and phone number. If you can't find a company operating at the given address after entering this information into a search engine, it's worth being particularly cautious.
2. Read the terms and conditions carefully
Online stores are obliged to provide clear and understandable terms and conditions. They should include the company's registration numbers (REGON, NIP, KRS), information about the possibility of withdrawing from the order, and the refund procedure. Don't skip this step, even if you want to finalize the transaction quickly.
3. Secure payment page
Pay special attention to the address bar when making payments. It should contain the correct address of the payment operator or bank. Even a small "typo" in the address should raise your suspicion.
4. Be cautious of exceptional deals
Be particularly careful when you encounter an offer that seems too good to be true. Scammers often use emotions and urgency to push us into hasty decisions. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
5. Independent verification
In case of doubt, you can always contact the bank or the service mediating the transaction directly. Remember that by reporting suspicious situations, you protect not only yourself but also other potential victims.
6. Protection of personal data
Never provide confidential information such as passwords, bank account numbers, or social security numbers if you didn't initiate the contact. Personal data is a valuable resource in the digital world that criminals can use for various dishonest activities.
7. Multi-factor authentication
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. This is an additional layer of protection that makes it much harder for cybercriminals to access your accounts, even if they obtain your password.
8. Use secure passwords
Don't use the same password across different services. A data breach in one of them could cause criminals to gain access to many of your accounts. In addition to being unique, passwords should also be long (16 characters or more). It's worth using a password manager so you don't have to remember them all.
9. Update software
Remember to regularly update the software on all your devices. Updates often include security patches that protect against the latest threats.
10. Shopping through Facebook links: why it's important to be cautious
During Black Week, it's particularly important to refrain from making purchases through advertising links on Facebook or other social media platforms. Cybercriminals often use these channels to spread fake offers and phishing links. By clicking on such ads, you may be redirected to fabricated pages that look like legitimate stores but are actually used to steal personal or financial data. Moreover, Facebook's algorithms don't always effectively filter out fraudulent ads, which increases the risk of encountering dishonest sellers. Instead, always type the store's address directly into your browser or use official mobile apps of known brands. This approach significantly reduces the risk of falling victim to fraud and ensures that you land on the seller's authentic page.
By following these rules, you will significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud while shopping during Black Week. Remember, your vigilance and caution are the best defense against cybercriminals.
