Beware Black Friday

Some Black Friday pointers for you to be aware of. Protect yourself, family and friends from becoming a victim....

Did you know America introduced the world to dental floss, microwave ovens and traffic lights around the world? Black Friday is another export from our cousins across the pond.

In case you didn't know, Black Friday is an annual event where businesses heavily discount their products and services.

The amount of online purchases surge on Black Friday and it's crept into Cyber Monday! It’s not for everyone. Many customers and businesses across the UK are turning against the event.

Edward Ashdale as an independent business located in Bromley supports using smaller local businesses as opposed to faceless corporate brands, online giants and chain stores.

With ‘too good to be true’ offers circulating on the net this time of year it’s wise to be cautious before committing your hard-earned cash to buying something that seems a massive bargain. Moreover, likely to be unnecessary or without future use.

Black Friday is the boom opportunity for cybercriminals and fraudsters. They are increasingly devising cunning ways to swindle unsuspecting victims.

So here are our five tips to help avoid Black Friday and online shopping scams.

1. First and foremost ensure the hyperlinks are accurate.
2. Don’t confirm any purchase if the link doesn’t have the secure padlock icon.
3. Avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi networks. If you’re shopping away from home, make sure your mobile device has the latest software updates and give unsecured Wi-Fi networks a swerve.
4. Never click through on email links. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s web site via your browser. A sensible rule of thumb is if you type "amazon.co.uk" into your browser, you’ll get to the real Amazon.
5. Massive discounts often equal dodgy products. Many of these type of discounts on name branded products are counterfeits. Double-check the retailers' details to make sure they’re well known and trustworthy.

Black Friday is usually something that doesn’t apply to estate agency. Of course, customers will always seek value for money, but most vendors and landlords understand when something is very cheap, this often compromises service, which is far more important when dealing with the most valuable asset a person will ever own.

We trust you find this useful. Please share with your friends to protect them becoming a victim of the Black Friday shenanigans.

Team @ Edward Ashdale