Black Friday : Safe Shopping Tips for a Smart & Secure Experience

10 Steps to Ensure Internet Safety While Shopping Online This Black Friday in South Africa

Black Friday is a great time to score amazing deals on a wide variety of products. However, it’s also a time when scammers are out in full force, trying to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers.

Here are 10 steps you can take to protect yourself from online scams this Black Friday in South Africa:

1. Shop only on secure websites. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and make sure the URL begins with “https://” or “shttp://”. This indicates that the site is using a secure encryption protocol to protect your data.

2. Be wary of emails and social media posts with too-good-to-be-true deals. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use these types of deals to lure victims into their traps.

3. Do your research before buying from a new website. Read online reviews, check the company’s website, and make sure they have a physical address and phone number in South Africa. You can also use Hello Peter South Africa, an online consumer complaint and review website, to check the company’s reputation.

4. Use a strong password for your online shopping accounts. Never use the same password for multiple accounts, and make sure your password is difficult to guess. You can also use a password manager tool, such as LastPass or 1Password, to generate strong passwords for you and store them securely.

5. Be careful about what information you share online. Never give out your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card details, on a website that you don’t trust. You can also use a virtual credit card, such as one from Privacy.com, to protect your real credit card number when shopping online.

6. Keep your software up to date. This includes your web browser, operating system, and security software. Outdated software can contain vulnerabilities that scammers can exploit. You can also enable automatic updates for your software to ensure you are always running the latest and most secure versions.

7. Be cautious about clicking on links in emails. Even if the email looks like it’s from a legitimate company, hover over the link to see where it actually goes. If you’re not sure, don’t click on it. You can also use a tool like Hoverify to preview links before you click on them.

8. Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls. Scammers often use phone calls to try to trick people into giving out their personal information. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from a legitimate company, hang up and call the company back yourself using a phone number you know is correct. You can also use a call blocking app, such as Hiya or RoboKiller, to block unwanted and scam calls.

9. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities. If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to the South African Police Service (SAPS) or the National Consumer Commission (NCC). You can also file a report internet service providers association .

10. Use a reputable payment method. Credit cards are generally the safest way to pay for online purchases, as they offer protection against fraud. You can also use a secure South African payment service, such as PayFast, Ozow, or PayPal.

Additional Tips for Shopping Online Safely in South Africa:

• Be aware of the South African Consumer Protection Act (CPA). The CPA protects consumers from unfair business practices, including scams. You can read more about the CPA on the website of the National Consumer Commission.
• Be careful about shopping from websites that are based outside of South Africa. These websites may not be subject to the same laws as South African websites. You can check the website’s domain name to see where it is registered.
• Make sure that the website you are shopping on is secure. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar and make sure that the URL begins with “https://” or “shttp://”. You can also use a tool like HTTPS Everywhere to force websites to use HTTPS encryption.
• Read reviews of the website or shop before you make a purchase