Black Friday cyber crime prevention guide

Stay safe this Black Friday

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, both for consumers and businesses. Unfortunately, it’s also a peak time for cyber criminals. With inboxes overflowing with deals and offers, attackers exploit urgency and trust to trick people into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive information.

This guide will help you spot the risks, protect your business and avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Why Black Friday is a prime target for cyber criminals

• High volume of emails: promotional emails from retailers and suppliers make it harder to distinguish genuine messages from fake ones.
• Urgency & pressure tactics: “Limited stock!” or “Offer ends in 2 hours!” creates a sense of panic, leading to impulsive clicks.
• B2B vulnerability: businesses often receive emails about bulk discounts, invoices or urgent payment requests, perfect for phishing scams.

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Top ways to stay secure this Black Friday

1. Verify before you click

• Hover over links before clicking, ask yourself does the URL match the sender’s official domain?
• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s or supplier’s official website.

2. Don’t trust attachments

• Cyber criminals often send fake invoices or order confirmations as attachments.
• If you weren’t expecting an attachment, don’t open it. Confirm with the sender via a trusted channel.

3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
• Even if your password is compromised, MFA makes it harder for attackers to gain access.

4. Update your software

• Ensure your operating systems, browsers and antivirus software are up to date.
• Updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.

5. Train your team

• A quick refresher on phishing risks can prevent costly mistakes.
• Share examples of common scams and encourage staff to report suspicious emails immediately.

B2B Black Friday phishing attempts

Cyber criminals know businesses are busy and looking for deals. Common tactics include:

• Fake supplier discounts
  Example: “Exclusive Black Friday pricing for your next bulk order, click here to claim.”
• Urgent payment requests
  Example: “Your account will be suspended unless you pay today. Please process this invoice immediately.”
• Invoice scams
  Example: Attachments claiming to be updated invoices for recent orders, often with malware embedded.

How to spot B2B phishing scams

• Check the sender’s email address
  Does it match the official domain of your supplier? Scammers often use similar-looking domains (e.g., supplier-support.com instead of supplier.com).
• Look for spelling & grammar errors
  Professional companies rarely send emails with typos or awkward phrasing.
• Beware of urgency & pressure
  Scammers use urgency to make you act without thinking. If an email demands immediate action, pause and verify.
• Confirm via another channel
  Call your supplier or use their official portal before making payments or clicking links.

Extra tips for businesses

• Segment your email accounts: use separate accounts for finance, operations and marketing to reduce risk.
• Enable email filtering: advanced spam filters can block many phishing attempts before they reach your inbox.
• Have an Incident Response Plan: know what steps to take if someone clicks a malicious link or downloads a harmful file. If you don’t have one, we can help you create one.

If something feels off, pause and verify. A few extra seconds can save your business from financial loss, data breaches and reputational damage.