Free Shipping on Black Friday: Learn More About This Scam

Black Friday, which will take place this year on November 29th, is perhaps the most important date for international commerce. Therefore, it’s natural that during this period companies dedicate a large part of their efforts and resources to promoting special deals, discounts, and offers.
After all, this is how they become more competitive, attract new customers, get ahead of the competition, and increase profitability during the event.

One of the most common Black Friday strategies is offering free shipping. When done transparently and honestly, this practice is an excellent way to attract customers and boost sales. However, it’s not only brands that see this resource as a growth opportunity during this time: scammers and fraudsters also wait for this moment to exploit real companies to deceive more consumers.

Come with Branddi and learn more about this scam and how to protect your brand and your customers!

What is the Free Shipping Scam?

If you regularly buy or sell during Black Friday, you have no doubt encountered the free shipping scam. This is one of the most common scams during the period, alongside fraudulent extended delivery deadlines and the infamous “everything at half of double the price.”

In the free shipping scam, fraudsters use fake websites, profiles, and ads, leveraging the names and elements of well-known and respected brands to attract and deceive unsuspecting consumers who, searching for the best deal, lower their guard and expose themselves to these traps.

After the purchase, the consequences for the customer are varied. Among them, we can highlight:

• Undelivered products: the merchandise never reaches its destination, and the consumer loses both the product’s value and the shipping cost;
• Low-quality or counterfeit products: the delivered product is inferior to what was advertised, defective, or not as described;
• Data theft: by purchasing on fraudulent sites and profiles, consumers’ personal and financial data are exposed, opening the door to unauthorized use and digital crimes;
• Difficulty obtaining refunds: it is common for fraudulent sites to disappear after the purchase. Thus, if a consumer realizes they were scammed, they most likely will not be able to contact the seller again, let alone get a refund.

What Are the Risks of the Free Shipping Scam for Brands?

According to data released by the partnership between Confi.Neotrust and ClearSale in 2023, the first two hours of that year’s Black Friday resulted in more than seven thousand attempted frauds. Expectations for this year are no lower: after all, scammers have had an additional year to develop and make their frauds more credible.

However, unlike common belief, consumers aren’t the only major targets and victims of these actions: companies are also exploited and suffer from these attacks. After all, not only are their organic conversions stolen, but also their most valuable asset: brand reputation.

But How Does the Free Shipping Scam Affect Brands?

The most obvious impact might seem to be on profitability, hijacking clicks by offering fake deals that appear more attractive, right? Well, yes, but that’s not all. Often, the deceived consumer doesn’t realize they’ve fallen into a digital trap, believing your brand is responsible for the fraud. This not only damages the trust between company and customer but also affects your reputation in the long term, especially during high-traffic retail events like Black Friday.

How to Protect Yourself from Free Shipping Scams?

Here at Branddi, we continuously investigate digital protection for companies all year round. That’s why we are always one step ahead of fraudsters, understanding their evolutions and recent tactics.

This is only possible thanks to our exclusive system, combining artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technology, and our team’s expertise. In this way, we continuously analyze all threats involving your brand’s elements—whether fake ads, profiles, or websites—spread across more than 2,000 existing TLDs.

In other words, we identify and remove these fake contents before they deepen and cause permanent damage to your image.

Thus, we ensure your brand is protected not only during Black Friday 2024 but throughout the entire year. Count on Branddi as the right partner to support your company in reaching and exceeding its goals!