We love a good sale... so do scammers

Black Friday scams are increasing. Watch for fake stores, ads, and delivery messages, and trust your instincts.

Who doesn’t love a good sale? But as retailers are getting ready to launch their Black Friday events (if they haven’t already), scammers are also limbering up, preparing to to take advantage of anyone hunting for a bargain.

They create fake ads, emails, and social media posts that direct you to a very convincing website that look just like the real thing. You place an order, your money is taken, and… the item never arrives.

Unfortunately, these types of scams are becoming increasingly common. According to the ACCC, shopping scams have been the most reported scam type involving financial loss in 2025. Of the almost 20,000 reports, almost half of them resulted in a combined loss of $8.6 million – a 19% jump from the same period in 2024.

“Scammers love Black Friday sales too because they know shoppers are looking for bargains and they rely on creating urgency and pressure that can come with a busy shopping period,” says ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe.

These scams are also hitting vulnerable communities harder, with reported losses rising 12% for people with a disability, 35% for people who speak English as a second language, and 50% for First Nations people.

It’s not just fake stores to watch out for. Fake delivery SMS and emails also spike during major sales events. You can read more about those scams here, and if you get an unexpected message about a missed package, think twice before following any links!

As always, trust your instincts. If a deal feels too good to be true or a website just feels off somehow, it probably is. Stick to trusted retailers and limit your risk by going directly to their official websites rather than clicking ads or links in emails or on social media.

Stay safe and happy shopping!