Scammers love Black Friday just as much as bargain hunters do, and for good reason. With so many people rushing to grab deals online, it's the perfect opportunity to set up fake websites designed to steal your personal or financial details.
From cloned stores to phishing emails with "too good to be true" offers, these scams can be surprisingly convincing. The good news? You don't have to fall for them.
How a VPN can help you spot fake shops
While a VPN by itself can't guarantee you'll avoid scams, choosing one with built-in cybersecurity tools can make a big difference, especially when it comes to identifying fake or dangerous websites before they load.
Take NordVPN, for example. It ranked #1 as the best VPN service in our latest testing, and its Threat Protection Pro feature adds a powerful layer of defense on top of its core VPN service. Here's what it includes:
- Malicious domain blocker – stops you from accessing websites that are known to distribute malware.
- Phishing domain blocker – flags suspicious URLs that try to imitate real sites to steal your login details.
- Scam and fraud alerts – warns you if a site or link is known to be part of a scam.
- Malicious website blocker – protects against fake stores that try to hijack your data at checkout.
- Anti-phishing protection – adds another line of defense against credential theft.
These tools run in the background while you browse, meaning they can help stop you from landing on scammy pages in the first place. And because they're updated regularly, they can react quickly to newly reported threats: this is crucial during high-risk periods like Black Friday, when scam websites pop up by the minute.
It's important to note, though, that Threat Protection Pro is only available with NordVPN's Plus plan or higher, not the basic plan. It's also not a silver bullet: no tool can catch 100% of scams.
But pairing these protections with your own scam-spotting awareness makes you far less likely to fall for a fake shop.
Other ways to spot a fake shop
Even if you're using a VPN with threat protection, scammers are constantly changing tactics, so it pays to stay alert.
Here are a few quick ways to spot fake websites before they steal your data or money:
- Check the website's URL carefully. Many scam sites mimic real ones with tiny changes, like swapping the letter "O" for a zero. If something feels off, it probably is. Also, look for https:// at the start of the URL: while not foolproof, it's one sign the site is legit.
- Look up the deal on social media. Big brands rarely launch major discounts without announcing them on their official accounts. If you can't find a mention anywhere, that flashy discount could be bait.
- Watch out for odd domain extensions. Most real stores use .com, .co.uk, or other familiar endings. If you see something like .xyz or .top, proceed with caution: scammers often use these cheaper, less regulated domains.
- Stick to trusted retailers whenever possible. If you're unsure about a site, check if the same product is available directly from the brand or through a well-known seller like Amazon or Best Buy. It's worth paying a little more for peace of mind.
Scam websites can look shockingly real, especially around the holidays when emotions and urgency run high.
By combining smart habits with a VPN that includes anti-scam protections, you can browse and buy with much more confidence.
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