The boom in digital commerce has completely transformed the way we shop during Black Friday and other global discount events. Deals disappear fast, carts fill up in seconds, and for many brands, it’s one of the most important times of the year.
But while millions of people are looking to score big promotions, cybercriminals are also paying close attention. And yes—Black Friday has become the perfect stage for launching massive phishing campaigns, especially in Latin America.
At TecnetOne, we see it every year: the more online purchases there are, the more digital scams circulate. And that’s no coincidence. The mix of urgency, excitement over discounts, and lack of verification makes users more vulnerable to falling for well-crafted traps.
How many phishing attacks happen each day?
To give you an idea of the scale of the problem: in the past year, Latin America recorded over 1.2 billion phishing attempts. Yes, you read that right. That means there are an average of 3.5 million attacks per day.
Phishing has become one of cybercrime’s favorite (and most profitable) tactics, and its activity spikes during peak online shopping periods: Black Friday, Hot Sale, Christmas… basically, whenever everyone is hunting for deals and shopping more than usual. In other words: while users hunt for discounts, attackers hunt for users.
How cybercriminals operate during Black Friday
Black Friday is a party for shoppers… and also for scammers. Between the thrill of finding irresistible discounts and the surge in online transactions, the stage is set for phishing to wreak havoc. Criminals take advantage of this digital chaos and roll out a series of tactics designed to steal personal and financial information without you even realizing it.
It usually starts with messages, emails, or ads that look completely legitimate. They may pretend to be from major retailers, popular brands, or even small boutiques offering an unbelievable “one-day-only” deal.
The goal is always the same: to create urgency. Phrases like “last units,” “only today,” or “final hours of the promo” are designed to get you to buy without taking a moment to verify.
If the user clicks, the next step is redirecting them to a fake website—one that’s so well-made, it’s hard to tell it apart from the real one. Cybercriminals copy logos, colors, wording, and even the full structure of official stores. These scams rely heavily on social engineering techniques and user experience design, so you might want to check out this article where we dive deeper into that topic.
Sometimes, they’ll change just one letter in the URL—enough to fool you. It’s not uncommon: studies estimate that 6 out of 10 Latin Americans have fallen for fraudulent shopping sites at some point.
And here comes the most dangerous part. When you reach the checkout and enter your details, all that information goes straight into the hands of scammers. That data is used to clone cards, commit banking fraud, or sell entire databases on illegal markets. In fact, 1 in 3 users in the region has already been a victim of some type of financial fraud. Why so much interest? Because phishing is massive, cheap to carry out, and highly profitable.
Cybercriminals take advantage of Black Friday to ramp up their online attacks.
Common Signs That a Deal Might Be a Scam
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Discounts that are unrealistically high.
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Over-the-top urgency: “only today,” “last units.”
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Spelling or grammar errors in messages.
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No security padlock or lack of HTTPS in the URL.
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Domain names with slight variations (e.g., swapped letters or added numbers).
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Requests for sensitive information before starting the purchase.
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Prompts to “verify your identity” asking for passwords or private codes.
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Deals sent through unexpected messages or from unknown contacts.
Best Practices for Safe Shopping on Black Friday
- Verify the URL and security certificate: Always make sure the site is legitimate and has a secure connection (HTTPS). If in doubt, type the URL directly into your browser instead of clicking on suspicious links.
- Be skeptical of “too good to be true” deals: If a price seems impossible for a popular product, do some research. Look up seller reviews, other users’ experiences, and the fine print of the offer.
- Use secure payment methods: Choose cards with fraud protection or virtual cards you can disable afterward. Avoid entering your banking details on unfamiliar sites.
- Keep your devices updated: Make sure your phone, computer, and browser are up to date. This helps prevent attacks that exploit known vulnerabilities. Avoid shopping on public WiFi; if you must, use a VPN.
- Monitor your bank activity: After every purchase, check your account. Set up alerts to catch suspicious activity and act quickly if you see any unrecognized charges.
- Check the seller’s reputation: Before buying from a marketplace or lesser-known store, check their ratings, delivery times, and customer reviews.
- Take a moment before buying: Remove the pressure of urgency. Just a 20-second pause can help you spot red flags and avoid scams.
Read more: 10 Tips to Prevent Digital Identity Theft
What to Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Phishing
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Immediately block your card and request a new one.
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Change your passwords for email, banking, and online stores.
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Review your account activity and report any unfamiliar charges.
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Notify the marketplace or store involved if the scam used their name.
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Save evidence (screenshots, emails, messages) to report the incident.
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Report it to cybersecurity or consumer protection authorities.
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Learn from the experience to avoid falling for similar attacks in the future.
In Latin America, digital commerce is growing at full speed. More and more people are shopping online, especially during events like Black Friday. But that growth isn’t always matched with strong cybersecurity awareness— and that’s where problems begin.
The result is clear: phishing becomes a highly profitable business for cybercriminals. On high-traffic shopping days, many users buy on impulse, click without verifying, or even make their first online purchase without knowing what signs to look out for. That mix of excitement, urgency, and lack of information makes them easy targets for digital fraud.
Conclusion
Black Friday is a great opportunity to score good deals, but it’s also one of cybercriminals’ favorite times of year. That’s why understanding how phishing works and knowing what signs to watch for gives you a huge advantage when shopping online.
The golden rule is simple: verify everything before clicking, be skeptical of anything that sounds too perfect, use secure payment methods, and keep your devices protected. With those habits, you can enjoy the deals without exposing your data or your money.
In short: take advantage of the promotions… but stay alert. At TecnetOne, we believe that smart shopping is the best way to enjoy Black Friday without unpleasant surprises.