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Luxury Brands Targeted by Cybercriminals During Black Friday

The cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies warns of an increased risk of phishing attacks during Black Friday. A growing trend sees fraudsters impersonating well-known delivery services and luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Ray-Ban and Rolex. These attacks mainly arrive via email, so consumers should be extra vigilant when shopping online during Black Friday and the holiday season.

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Major shopping periods — Black Friday and the holiday season — are approaching, and with them the risk of fraud increases.

This year the scams are particularly targeting delivery services. In October 2023, Check Point Software observed a 13 percent increase in malicious files tied to orders and deliveries compared with the same period the previous year.

Over the past month there has been a noticeable rise in phishing attacks related to deliveries and online shopping. It is therefore important that consumers stay especially alert as we head into the year’s busiest online shopping period, says Mats Ekdahl, security expert at Check Point Software. As cybercriminals increasingly use AI, phishing emails become harder to spot visually, underscoring the need for both businesses and individuals to keep their systems updated and protected.

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Three tips to spot fraud attempts

  1. Ignore the display name — the display name on phishing emails is often manipulated to hide the real sender. Instead, check the sender’s email address to verify that it comes from a trusted source.
  2. Verify the sender’s domain — scammers frequently use domains that resemble the organization they are imitating. Watch for misspellings or variations and compare them with the company’s official website. Any differences can indicate a potential scam.
  3. Check links before clicking — phishing attacks are designed to get victims to click malicious links. Inspect links to make sure they lead where they claim to. Hover your cursor over the link without clicking to preview the destination. A safer practice is to avoid email links and visit the company’s website directly from your browser.

For additional information, consult Check Point Software’s research and guidance on recent shopping-related phishing campaigns and how luxury brands are being abused in email scams.