The largest shopping event of the year, Black Friday, occurs every November. Its origins date back to mid-20th century America when retailers began marking the start of the Christmas shopping season the day after Thanksgiving.
Over time, Black Friday has grown into a significant international shopping extravaganza that typically spans from Friday through to Monday, known as ‘Cyber Monday’.
During this period, you can find millions of discounted products in various categories such as technology, beauty, fashion, TVs, mattresses, kitchen appliances, and more, with substantial savings.
Prominent brands like Lego, Charlotte Tilbury, Zara, Asos, Missoma, Nintendo, and Cult Beauty all participate in this event.
Some companies, including Boots, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, and Currys, have already commenced their sales.
Amazon is getting an early start with its sale, offering new deals daily from midnight on Friday, November 17, until the end of Monday, November 27.
Black Friday for this year falls on November 24, and the 2023 sales are scheduled to occur from Friday, November 24, through to Monday, November 27.
How to avoid Black Friday scams
According to data from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), in 2021, consumers lost £15.3 million to scams during the Black Friday and Christmas shopping season. In response to this, the NCSC has provided guidance for online shoppers.
This advice includes setting up two-step verification on your accounts and using random-word passwords to safeguard against cyber scammers attempting to gain access to your shopping, banking, or email accounts. Additionally, it is recommended to use secure payment platforms like PayPal, Google, or Apple Pay when making purchases for added protection. Always be vigilant and look for the closed padlock icon in the web address bar when making online payments, as it signifies a secure connection.