How to Spot Fake Black Friday Discounts and Retail Scams

OPA WIRE, Nov 7 (OPA) — Black Friday falls on November 27, but major retailers including Amazon and Best Buy have already launched early promotional campaigns. Consumer research shows that many advertised discounts do not represent actual price cuts compared to rates offered earlier in the year.

A study tracking 175 products across eight retailers from May 2024 to May 2025 found that 83 percent of items were available for the same price or less outside the four-week Black Friday window. Cybersecurity analysts at Bitdefender also reported that scams accounted for 53 percent of analyzed Black Friday-related spam between October 1 and November 10, 2025, involving phishing emails and counterfeit coupons.

Analysts recommend using price tracking tools such as CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, or built-in assistant features to review up to 365 days of price history. For example, UK consumer organization Which? examined a Samsung Jet Bot robot vacuum advertised by John Lewis for £350 on Black Friday 2024 down from £500, noting it had sold for £299 during May and June.

Experts advise consumers to avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or sponsored ads, recommending direct visits to retailer websites. Buyers should also verify third-party vendors on platforms like Amazon by checking the "Sold by" listing rather than relying solely on shipping details.