Holiday Sales Are Great For Your Wallet And For Scammers
Holiday shopping can be a smart way to stretch your budget. Black Friday and Cyber Monday now feel like they last for weeks, with flashing deals, countdown timers, and “low stock” warnings on every page. Urgency works really well in marketing and advertising, and that’s exactly what scammers and shady sellers take advantage of.
When you feel rushed, you stop checking the details. You don’t read the fine print. You skip the extra step of looking up a company or comparing prices. That moment of pressure is where most holiday scams slip through.
How Fake Reviews Trick You When You Are In A Hurry
One of the fastest ways scammers build fake credibility is through reviews. If you notice the same short phrases repeated again and again, that is a bad sign. Real customers don’t all write like they copied from a script. Consumer investigations have shown that fake or coordinated reviews often reuse similar wording and arrive in suspicious bursts.
Don’t just skim the star ratings, either. Click the reviewer profiles and look for accounts with only one review, or a trail of random products across different countries. Those are two big signs that you’re probably not looking at genuine buyers. When in doubt, cross check on a second trusted retail site, or look for detailed, balanced reviews that mention both pros and cons.
When A “Deal” Is Really A Downgrade
Next, look at the price with a clear head. If a deal looks unreal, assume there is a catch until you can prove otherwise. Compare the same product on at least one well known retailer. If no one else is close on price, slow down and double check the model number and specs.
There is another twist many shoppers don’t know about… and you’re not going to like it.
Some big brands create special holiday or “doorbuster” versions of products that look identical to their regular models, except they’re actually far worse in quality, with fewer features or cheaper components. Investigations into Black Friday electronics have documented these “derivative models,” that are made specifically for short term sales and often built to a lower standard.
That doesn’t mean every sale is a scam. It just means you should take a minute when you see a great deal, and search the exact model number plus the word “review.” If almost nothing comes up, or it appears only in one store flyer, treat that as a warning sign.
Pay In Ways That Give You Real Protection
No matter how good the offer looks, your payment method is your last line of defense. Stick with options that give you a way to dispute a bad charge, such as major credit cards or secure payment platforms. If a seller pushes you toward paying for a large purchase via wire transfers, gift cards, or payment apps (Venmo, Cash App, etc.), walk away. These are favorites for scammers because once the money is gone, it is almost impossible to get back.
Before you check out, take ten seconds to ask three questions: Who am I really paying? Where is my money going? What is my recourse if something goes wrong? If you can’t answer all three clearly, you are not ready to buy.
A Deeper Guide To Avoiding Scams All Year Long
If you want to go beyond a few holiday tips and really understand how scammers think, there is a book worth adding to your cart before anything else. Consumer investigator Dale Cardwell’s latest book, Don't Get Scammed, Get Smart!, lays out strategies for spotting and stopping modern scams before they hit your wallet.
Drawing on decades of investigative work, the book explains how scams are built, which questions instantly reveal a dishonest deal, and how to protect your money in everything from online shopping to home services. It has been updated to cover today’s most dangerous post-COVID scams, and is available through major retailers, including Amazon and other online booksellers.
This holiday season, remember the rule: slow down, check twice, and let pressure be your signal to pause, not to click. Your best bargain is the one that doesn’t turn into some scammer’s holiday bonus.