4 Black Friday scams to watch out for
Protect your money this Black Friday by recognising fake deals, delivery scams, phishing messages and AI-generated fraud.
Before you go bargain shopping, especially online, in the run-up to and during Black Friday, you need to know how to protect your hard-earned money.
With hundreds of stores and items to choose from, it is important to ensure you are purchasing from a legitimate source.
According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre, South Africans lost a collective R2.4bn to digital banking crime in 2025, an average of almost R22 000 per incident.
Most of these scams involve criminals tricking people into sharing information or approving payments, rather than attacks on banks’ systems.
Customer operations executive at RCS, Audrey Roberts warns consumers to pause and check before they click, pay or share personal information.
“Most scams rely on one of two tricks; they either rush you with fake urgency or win you over with fake trust. Once you know these tricks, a scam becomes much easier to spot,” said Roberts.
AI, however, has made it more difficult for people to recognise scams.
“The spelling mistakes that used to give scams away are disappearing. AI writes convincing messages in seconds, and deepfakes can produce realistic photos and videos.
“If a message seems to come from a brand or person you trust, check it through a channel you already know, like the official website or a number you’ve saved yourself.”
Black Friday scams to watch out for
1. The fake deal
Copycat websites or social media adverts selling big-brand goods at unbelievable prices. The goods never arrive, and your card details may be stolen.
2. The delivery scam
An SMS, WhatsApp or email saying a parcel is delayed or that you owe a small delivery or customs fee. Track orders only through the retailer’s official website or app.
3. The fake giveaway
Competitions or voucher offers that ask for personal details, an ‘admin fee’ or your one-time PIN (OTP) to claim a prize. Genuine competitions never ask for your OTP.
4. The fake helpline
Fake contact numbers planted online so they appear in search results and AI search summaries. Call a store only on the number listed on its official website or your order confirmation.
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