Black Friday scams are one of the biggest risks of the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Every November, millions of shoppers rush for bargains, and scammers exploit that urgency. Fake websites, phishing emails and too-good-to-be-true prices all appear before Black Friday, which falls on Friday 27 November 2026. Most follow the same patterns, so once you know what to look for, you can shop with confidence.

Key Facts

• Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, the day after Thanksgiving on Thursday 26 November.
• The most common Black Friday scams are fake online stores, phishing emails and texts, fake social media ads, and counterfeit goods.
• A deal far cheaper than every other retailer is almost always a scam, not a bargain.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes free consumer advice on how to recognise and report scams.
• Never pay for an online order by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
• Check a website’s contact details, return policy and reviews before buying from a new store.

Fake Online Stores That Vanish After You Pay

One of the most common black friday scams is the fake online store. These sites copy the design, logo and product photos of a well-known brand, then advertise popular items — headphones, game consoles, designer trainers, smart TVs — at prices far below the usual retail price. You pay, and then nothing arrives — or a cheap counterfeit does instead.

Fake stores often appear through social media ads or search results, using a web address almost identical to a real retailer’s, with one letter changed. Before buying from a new store, check for a real address, a working phone number and a clear returns policy. Search the store’s name with “scam” or “reviews” to see what other shoppers say. A legitimate store accepts credit cards and payment services with buyer protection, while a site asking for bank transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency gives you almost no way to get your money back. Our guide to Black Friday shopping tips for 2026 covers how to plan purchases safely and stick to retailers you trust.

Phishing Emails and Texts Pretending to Be Big Retailers

In the weeks before Black Friday, your inbox fills with sale announcements and shipping updates. Scammers exploit this with phishing emails and texts that look like they come from Amazon, Walmart, Target or your delivery company. They may claim your order has a problem, your account is locked, or you have won a prize. The message links to a fake login page designed to steal your password, or a file that installs harmful software.

A real retailer will never ask you to confirm your password or bank details by email or text. Be suspicious of any message that creates panic — “your account will be closed in 24 hours” — because urgency is the scammer’s favourite tool. Instead of clicking the link, go directly to the retailer’s official website or app. Check the sender’s address too: phishing emails often have small differences. For more warning signs, read our guide on how to spot holiday shopping scams online.

Fake Deals and Inflated “Was” Prices

Not every Black Friday scam involves a criminal. Some retailers use misleading pricing to make a discount look bigger than it is. A common trick is to raise the “was” price shortly before the sale, so a product that normally sells for 200 dollars is listed as “was 400 dollars, now 200 dollars” — even though it was never sold at 400 dollars. The deal looks like a 50 percent saving when you are paying the normal price.

Check the price history of anything expensive before you buy. Price-tracking websites and browser tools show what an item has sold for over the past few months. Compare the price across two or three retailers. If only one store offers a dramatic discount while everyone else sells the same item at the usual price, be cautious. The same scepticism applies to social media ads, since genuine luxury brands almost never discount by 80 or 90 percent. Our comparison of Black Friday vs Cyber Monday 2026 will help you decide which day suits the items on your list.

Social Media Ads, Fake Giveaways and Counterfeit Goods

Social media is one of the biggest sources of Black Friday scams. Scammers create pages that impersonate popular brands, run sponsored ads for products at unbelievable prices, and promote fake giveaways that ask you to share the post, tag friends and click a link to claim a prize. The link usually leads to a page asking for personal information, payment details, or a small “shipping fee” — and that card information is then used fraudulently.

Real brands do run giveaways, but they never ask winners to pay a fee to claim a prize, and they never ask for bank details through a link in a comment. Before trusting an ad, check the page behind it: a genuine brand page has a long history and many followers, while a scam page is usually new with very few posts.

Gift Card Scams and Payment Tricks

Gift cards are a favourite tool of scammers during the holiday season. A scammer may call or message you pretending to be from your bank, a government department or a tech support company, claiming you owe money or your account has been hacked, and telling you to pay by buying gift cards and reading out the codes. No genuine organisation will ever ask you to pay this way. Gift cards are for gifts, not for paying bills, taxes or fines.

Scammers also tamper with gift cards in stores, recording the number and PIN from cards on display, then draining the balance once someone buys and loads the card. Choose a card from the back of the rack, check the packaging has not been opened, and keep the receipt until the card has been used. The safest way to pay online is with a credit card or a payment service that offers buyer protection.

How to Shop Safely and What to Do If You Are Scammed

Safe shopping is mostly about slowing down. Scammers rely on urgency, so pause before you click, pay or share information. Make a list before the sales start and set a budget, so you are less tempted by a flash deal you never planned to buy. Keep devices protected with the latest software updates, strong different passwords, and two-factor authentication where available. Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi — use your mobile data or a trusted home network instead. If you are unsure whether a deal is genuine, check the FTC’s consumer advice on scams before you buy.

If you think you have fallen for a Black Friday scam, act quickly. Contact your bank or card provider first — they may be able to stop or reverse the payment. Then change the password on any account sharing the password you used on the scam site, and report the scam to the FTC and the platform where you saw the ad, so it can be taken down before it catches someone else. Do not feel embarrassed: these scams are designed to fool careful people. Know the signs, trust your instincts, and remember the golden rule — if a deal looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Black Friday scams in 2026?

Fake online stores, phishing emails and texts pretending to be retailers or delivery companies, fake social media ads and giveaways, counterfeit goods at unrealistic prices, and gift card payment scams.

How can I tell if a Black Friday deal is real?

Compare the price with the official brand website and two other retailers, check the price history, and look at the seller’s reviews, contact details and returns policy.

Is it safe to shop on Black Friday websites I have never used before?

It can be, but check the store first. Look for a real address, a working phone number, a clear returns policy and independent reviews, and pay by credit card or a payment service with buyer protection.

What should I do if I clicked a phishing link?

Do not enter any information. Close the page, run a security scan, and change the password of any account that might be affected. If you entered card details, contact your bank straight away.

Are Black Friday deals on social media real?

Some are, but social media is a major source of scams. Check that the page is the brand’s genuine, established page and the link goes to the brand’s real website. Never pay a fee to claim a giveaway prize.

What should I do if my Black Friday order never arrives?

Contact the seller first and keep a record of your messages. If the seller does not respond, contact your bank or card provider to dispute the payment, and report the store to the FTC.