TL;DR: The scam surge builds through the week of Thanksgiving and peaks on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when shoppers are primed to move fast on deals and are less likely to scrutinize an unfamiliar retailer. Stick to retailers you already know, pay with a credit card rather than a debit card or wire transfer for extra dispute protection, and pause before buying from an ad you've never seen the brand run before.
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The scam surge builds through the week of Thanksgiving and peaks on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when shoppers are primed to move fast on deals and are less likely to scrutinize an unfamiliar retailer.
How the Scam Plays Out
Scammers stand up lookalike storefronts and run ads for popular items at impossibly low prices, take payment, and either ship nothing or send a cheap counterfeit, counting on the chaos of the shopping weekend to delay complaints.
How to Protect Yourself
Stick to retailers you already know, pay with a credit card rather than a debit card or wire transfer for extra dispute protection, and pause before buying from an ad you've never seen the brand run before.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading End-of-Summer College Move-In Scams.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Concert and Festival Ticket Scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this typically happen?
The scam surge builds through the week of Thanksgiving and peaks on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when shoppers are primed to move fast on deals and are less likely to scrutinize an unfamiliar retailer.
What tactics are used?
Scammers stand up lookalike storefronts and run ads for popular items at impossibly low prices, take payment, and either ship nothing or send a cheap counterfeit, counting on the chaos of the shopping weekend to delay complaints.
How can I protect myself?
Stick to retailers you already know, pay with a credit card rather than a debit card or wire transfer for extra dispute protection, and pause before buying from an ad you've never seen the brand run before.
What should I do if I’ve already been targeted?
Stop all payments immediately, contact your bank or card issuer to see if a transaction can be reversed or flagged, and report the incident to the appropriate consumer protection body.