When did it start and how to watch out for scams – KIRO 7 News Seattle

On Monday, workers will be back at their desks but may not be working as online retailers will distract them from their jobs with holiday shopping deals.

When did Cyber ​​Monday start?

The National Retail Federation (NRF) invented the term “Cyber ​​Monday” long after online shopping began. Amazon was founded in 1994, eBay the next year and Walmart launched its website in 2000, NBC News reported.

The NRF found over the course of several years that online purchases spiked on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The day was declared Cyber ​​Monday in a press release in 2005, and media and stores adopted the term.

“With online shopping on the rise, online-only retailers like Amazon were looking for a way to capitalize on Thanksgiving weekend sales,” said Katherine Cullen, vice president of NRV. “The Monday after Thanksgiving was dedicated to online sales and was different from Black Friday.”

It has become the most profitable day for online shopping every year, but now Cyber ​​Monday deals last not just one day, but several days, even weeks, beyond the holidays.

Adobe predicts $13.2 billion will be spent on Cyber ​​Monday this year.

What offers are there?

Maybe it’s better to ask what doesn’t have a deal.

Almost every media company has some sort of “best buy” for Cyber ​​Monday and its associated online sales.

Target is offering “50% off thousands of items.” Competitor Walmart’s offers were published on BlackFriday.com. Amazon has already launched a website with the best Cyber ​​Monday deals starting on Saturday.

National Geographic has compiled a list of “19 of the Best Cyber ​​Monday Travel and Adventure Deals.”

Even Broadway and Madison Square Garden have joined the Cyber ​​Monday trend.

How do you recognize a scam?

While people are looking for deals, scammers are looking for people to scam. So how do you spot a scam?

UPI reported that scammers use fake websites, SEO poisoning and phishing to get your information or money.

Fake websites look real, but they are not. They collect information from credit cards to login details to separate you from your cash. AI and quishing or the use of malicious QR codes are capable of bypassing email filters.

How can you protect yourself? Cybersecurity company Check Point Software Solutions gave UPI the following tips:

• Check URLs for misspellings or strange domains.
• Make sure a website starts with “https://” and has a padlock.
• Compare the sender of an email with verified emails. Don’t click if you’re not 100% sure.
• Don’t click on QR codes blindly.
• Don’t provide unnecessary information like a Social Security number or birthday if it wouldn’t be needed under normal circumstances.

WSET spoke with the Better Business Bureau in Southwest Virginia and added:

• Don’t click on a social media popup
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card.
• Watch out for red flags such as longer than normal delivery times, buy-one-get-one-free offers, or the need to pay through a payment app.
• Check out a BBB website.

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