Online scams skyrocket before Black Friday – NordVPN warns what shoppers should watch out for

• A NordVPN analysis found a 250% jump in fake Black Friday shops
• Scammers use AI to copy retailer sites and steal data
• NordVPN Threat Protection Pro blocked 4.5 million malicious domains

Black Friday is almost here, bringing with it not only deep discounts but also the risk of fake online shops and other online scams.

Scammers are exploiting the holiday-season frenzy, flooding the web with counterfeit stores that promise impossible bargains. A recent NordVPN analysis – first reported by Euronews – shows a 250% jump in bogus e-commerce sites in the weeks leading up to the sales weekend.

These rogue sites jeopardize shoppers by siphoning payment details, stealing personal data, and steering victims into sophisticated investment scam schemes – all before the actual Black Friday sales day arrives. Investment fraud losses topped $5.7 billion in 2024 alone.