Black Friday is known for its extraordinary deals. From fuzzy house slippers to the latest electronics, Black Friday is one of the most popular days to knock items off your holiday shopping list. However, Black Friday is also a scammer's or hacker's paradise. The endless spending leaves people vulnerable to simple scams more than ever. 

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep you safe this holiday shopping season.

1. Do your research on unreliable or new websites.

It is always fun to find the perfect new store full of shockingly good deals and items that you love, but sometimes it is just too good to be true. Many of these deals may lead to non-delivery scams where your amazing steal never gets delivered. To prevent these non-delivery scams, only buy from reputable sources that you have used before or have researched for credibility.

2. Keep your eyes peeled for phishing scams.

With inboxes flooding with holiday deals, it can be difficult to tell which ones are the real deal. Learn how to identify fraudulent emails in your inbox. 

3. Double check your spelling.

This may seem obvious, but one wrong mistype could take you to a fake website that looks almost identical to the one you intended. To stay safe from fake websites, double check your spelling or use their app for more certainty. 

4. Contact the company for clarification.

If you get a text or email about an order that seems a bit off or asks you to disclose any personal information, don’t hesitate to call or email the company to see if this is typical procedure. 

From all of us at Texas A&M Technology Services, here’s to a scam-free holiday season!