Alert : Fake Black Friday Discounts – Misleading Promotions Trap Online Shoppers

During Black Friday, some discounts advertised online do not reflect genuine price reductions: they may rely on inflated reference prices, questionable crossed-out prices or fraudulent shopping websites.

Stay vigilant: a few simple checks can help you avoid misleading bargains and websites designed to steal your banking details.

Fake Black Friday Discount Scam

The scam involves presenting an offer as exceptional when the actual saving is minimal, nonexistent or offset by fees added at the last minute. Some practices may also violate UK or US consumer protection regulations governing misleading pricing and discount claims.

How the Scam Works

Unscrupulous sellers may increase a price before the sales event, then advertise an impressive discount when Black Friday arrives. Others rely on an old comparison price that was never actually charged, or redirect consumers to copies of well-known online stores to capture their payment information.

Warning signs: an unusually large discount on a branded product, an unverifiable crossed-out price, unexpected fees at checkout, a website closely resembling a major retailer, a link received through an unsolicited text message or email, or a clearance or discontinued-product offer used to sell an item of questionable quality.

Some Practical Tips:

• 📝 Monitor prices before buying: record the prices of products you are interested in ahead of time to determine whether the advertised discount is genuine.
• 📊 Check price histories: price comparison websites and tracking tools can help identify artificial price increases before Black Friday.
• ⚠️ Be sceptical of spectacular discounts: an exceptionally large reduction on an electronic or branded product may conceal a manipulated reference price or poor quality.
• 🔎 Check the website address: enter the store’s official URL yourself instead of following a link received in a message.
• 💳 Check the total before paying: if shipping or processing fees appear at the final checkout stage, reconsider whether the offer is genuinely worthwhile.
• 📦 Beware of offers on discontinued products that seem too good to be true: they may be used to sell counterfeit goods, illegal replicas or defective products.

Conclusion

Every Black Friday promotion deserves careful checking before payment: compare prices, verify the website, review the order details and never provide your banking information after clicking a link in an unsolicited message.

If you identify a fake discount or fraudulent shopping website, report the issue through the official reporting platform in your country or use our fraud reporting assistant, then warn your friends and family to help prevent further victims.

To strengthen your precautions before shopping online, these resources can help:

• 👉 Analyse an offer or promotion before paying
• 👉 Check a link before visiting an online store
• 👉 Learn essential precautions against online scams
• 👉 Get help after falling victim to fraud

Written by : René Ronse
Sources & Methodology : This alert is based on regular monitoring of national reporting platforms, feedback from victims, statements issued by the relevant authorities and other information available at the time of writing or the latest update. Its purpose is to identify the method used, the warning signs and the appropriate steps to take when faced with this type of fraud.
About the author : René Ronse, manager of ArnaqueOuFiable.com. Expert in consumer cybersecurity, specialist in detecting online fraud, product transparency, and digital compliance. He has over 20 years of experience analyzing hidden subscription mechanisms, unreadable terms and conditions, aggressive sales tactics, and deceptive commercial practices on the web.
Last updated : 6 November 2026.
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