Black Friday is a great time to find a deal. It’s also a great time for scammers to make a fake deal look real.
You’ve probably seen them before: an email saying your favourite store has an unbelievable discount, a social post offering a product at a price that’s just too good to be true, or a website pop-up asking you to click that link.
When you're rushing to grab that bargain before it disappears, it’s easy to click first and think later. And that's exactly what scammers want.
Scammers target South Africans throughout the year, but the busy shopping period gives them even more chances to catch people off guard. A 2025 TransUnion survey found that 68% of South Africans surveyed had been targeted by email, online, phone or text-message fraud between August and December 2024.
So, before you get caught up in the Black Friday rush, take a minute to check the deal.
1. Check where the deal came from
You see a pair of headphones for half the usual price. The advert looks like it came from a well-known retailer, so you click.
Stop there.
Before entering your details, check the website address. Does it look right? Is the spelling correct? Does the website use the retailer's usual web address?
Scammers can create websites that look surprisingly similar to the real thing. They can copy logos, product pictures and even the look and feel of a familiar online store.
If you found the deal through a social media post, rather go directly to the retailer's website yourself instead of clicking the link in the post.
It might take an extra minute, but it could save you hours of headaches later. That's a pretty good trade-off for protecting your money.
2. Don't let “today only” rush you
Black Friday is all about urgency.
“Ends tonight.”
“Only 10 left.”
“Last chance.”
That pressure can make you feel like you have to act immediately. And that's exactly when we are more likely to overlook something that doesn't look quite right.
If a deal is genuine, taking a minute to check the retailer, the price and the payment process shouldn't make you lose your head.
A good rule to remember is: if you're being rushed into paying, slow down.
3. Be careful with links and messages
You might get an email offering you a special discount. Or a WhatsApp message that looks like it's from a retailer you've used before.
Don't automatically trust it because it uses a familiar name.
Phishing scams try to trick you into sharing your information by making a message look like it comes from someone you know or trust. If you're unsure, go directly to the company's website or app and check the deal before sharing any personal or financial information.
4. Look beyond the price
A surprisingly cheap price is one of the biggest reasons we click.
But ask yourself: why is it so cheap?
If everyone else is selling the same phone for R10,000 and someone you've never heard of is offering it for R4,000, don't just think you've found the bargain of the year.
You might have found a scam.
That doesn't mean every unusually cheap deal is fake. It just means it's worth doing a little more checking before you pay.
Search for the retailer. Check its contact details. Look at its returns policy. Search for reviews. And compare the deal with the price on the official retailer's website.
A little research can help you protect your money.
5. Think about what happens after you buy
Protecting your money isn't only about stopping a scam before it happens.
The festive season is also a time when we tend to spend more on things that matter to us – from phones and laptops to appliances, gifts and family expenses.
And while no one wants to think about something going wrong after making a purchase, unexpected events can put pressure on your money at any time.
That's why protection is worth thinking about beyond the checkout screen, especially credit life cover and legal insurance.
JustMoney Protect offers customised insurance solutions to help you and your family deal with some of life's unexpected costs. What makes credit life cover so valuable is that it helps you settle or reduce what you owe, helping you or your family manage your credit commitments when the unforeseen happens like permanent disability, loss of income, critical illness or if you pass away. Legal insurance can help with costs linked to certain legal matters. Visit the refreshed JustMoney website to find the insurance solution that’s right for you.
The right cover won't stop a scammer from sending you a dodgy link. But it can form part of a bigger approach to protecting the money you've worked hard for.
After all, Black Friday might be about getting more for your money.
But a good money choice is also about protecting what you've got.