Black Friday 2022

We all love a good old Black Friday, jumping at the opportunity to grab some really great specials. But do you know the story and origin of this magnificent day?
Black Friday first occurred in the United States in the year 1952. The original date was chosen to be the weekend after Thanksgiving, in the beginning of December when everybody gets ready to purchase their Christmas gifts. The term “Black Friday” was then not yet used, it only started making headlines in the 2000s.
Black Fridays are now sometimes held twice a year in South Africa. These days mark the biggest shopping days of the year. Shop hours are extended, goods are up for sale at really cheap prices and some stores are even open throughout the night. Some businesses even extended the day to the rest of the weekend, making it easier for people having to work on that specific day, to also have part of this occurrence.

The word “Black” being used to describe the day refers to the amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic increase. If you had to look down on the people scurrying around, their heads would look like black ants moving around, therefor the Black Friday naming.
With all the fun and cheap deals there is also caution to be taken. This day is a field day for pick-pocketers and bag snatchers. While driving, keep your doors and windows closed and locked. If you park at a shop, make sure your vehicle is locked bu pulling the handle of your door, especially if you use central locking. Whilst in the store take only what you need and what you can carry by hand. Keep your purse and cellphone safe in your arms, and avoid putting valuables in your pocket.
If you seek the adrenaline rush of being the first shopper to enter the store, take care to not be trampled by the crowd.
Be nice to your fellow shoppers and enjoy your Black Friday experience.

Black Friday is here to unleash the festive shopping season. It’s also the season to be cyber-savvy when shopping online and be aware of potential cyber scams.
Here are six essential tips everyone needs to remember before clicking ‘add to cart’.
It’s not just the e-tailers and customers that are getting ready for the traditional end of year shopping bonanza, the scammers and fraudsters intend to get in on the action too.
Here are six pitfalls to help you avoid shopping scams:

1. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is. Of course Black Friday is all about discounts you can’t get at any other time of the year, but don’t let that cloud your common sense. If you’re unsure about a link or a voucher, or a price just seems too low, head over to the retailer’s site directly. If the deal is legitimate it will be there.

2. Don’t give out any of your personal information. Legitimate companies will never ask for you to share your bank details or passwords via text messages. If they’re an online retailer, they will be aware of the prevalence of scams and will confidently provide you with proof of their legitimacy.

3. Treat the social media marketplaces with extreme caution. If you’re considering purchasing a product from a social media profile page, check how long the business has been around, how many followers it has, and whether the customer reviews come from real accounts.

4. Only sign off on secure payments. When entering your details into a website, make sure there is a little padlock symbol in the address bar. In addition, always check that the URL from the site you’re inputting details into begins with https:// as this signals that your data will be encrypted.

5. Only use credit cards. It is a lot easier for your bank to refund you if you’ve been scammed and you used a credit card to make the transaction. Transferring money directly from your account or using a debit card can make the refund process much more difficult.

6. If you’ve been scammed, react immediately. Your top priority is to contact your bank. Your credit cards must be replaced and you must change your security details on your bank accounts. In addition, you need to be quick about resetting passwords and maximising the security settings on your online shopping accounts.