Beware of offers that are too tempting, be careful when paying online, and be careful when receiving notifications to update the shipping status of an order. These are some of the recommendations contained in the November 12th newsletter of the Privacy Guarantor, which has drawn up a list of suggestions in view of Black Friday.
Extraordinary discounts - especially if accompanied by the request to click on a link, provide personal or banking information - and ads on social media, but also sites that offer products at rock-bottom prices should be carefully evaluated before proceeding with the purchase. The risk, explains the Guarantor, is that - through the email address, text messages or messages - potential fraudsters steal personal data, obtain payments or induce viruses or other malicious programs to be installed on one's device. Fake sites, created precisely during the period par excellence of online shopping, are also dangerous.
To verify the authenticity and reliability of the seller, the Guarantor suggests checking that the URL in the address bar corresponds to the name of the company. It is also useful, when you receive offers via email or text message or via social media, to purchase on the site by typing the address: in fact, it is better to avoid clicking on any links received. It is also essential to acquire information and reviews on the seller through search engines or AI tools. You may also find that the site uses an encrypted connection, but you should always pay attention to browser security warnings. In the event of an alert from the search engine, the Authority's recommendation is to stop browsing and not to enter personal or banking data. Finally, the Guarantor suggests, it may be useful to search online for the company's contact channels and directly verify the information with a phone call, an email or through a dedicated chat.
When you have decided to proceed with the purchase, adds the Authority, it is better to pay with prepaid credit cards or other systems that allow you to avoid sharing your banking data. It is also useful to set up notification systems that alert you to transactions in real time so you can identify any unauthorized charges and intervene promptly with the bank or card manager.
Maximum caution even when waiting to receive the package containing the ordered products: as the Guarantor explains, in fact, during the Black Friday period the danger of false shipping notifications, updates on the order status, problems relating to delivery or even collection of the package increases. Communications that can be misleading even in the presence of a real purchase by the user: it is always advisable not to provide personal data and avoid clicking on links or installing software. If you want to know the progress of the shipment, it is preferable to rely on the official website or application of the seller or courier, without clicking on any links in the message.
