The Croatian Banking Association (HUB) calls on citizens for extra caution when shopping online ahead of the popularly named ‘Black Friday’ and the increasingly frequent attempts to misuse personal and card data.
Due to the rise in fraud attempts and a significantly larger number of fake online advertisements that appear every year before the global shopping weekend, it is important to verify the authenticity of advertisements that attract exceptionally favorable online purchases, while simultaneously exposing individuals to misuse and unauthorized collection of personal data. The authenticity of the online domain through which online shopping is intended can be verified at the following link.
Additionally, criminals often use social networks and online portals to publish fake contests or advertise products at significantly lower prices compared to market prices. A large number of advertisements can be noticed on social media that maliciously direct potential buyers to supposedly favorable purchases of various branded goods (shoes, clothing, and other items) – “HOT SALE”, “80% OFF”, “Discount Sale” offers, and similar.
By opening such suspicious links, potential victims reach a fake website that serves to collect and steal personal data and card information, and the goods they believe they have ordered are not received by the buyers. Furthermore, the data stolen in this way can be used by thieves to make payments at other online stores, with users only later noticing that their accounts have been charged for transactions they did not execute.
To ensure that citizens are safe when shopping online, it is essential to inform themselves about the responsible use of cards, as well as the most common types of current online fraud. For this reason, the Croatian Banking Association has prepared a guide for safe online shopping.
