The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

Black Friday sees a spike in fake websites

Black Friday is one of the most anticipated days of the year, a day when people are searching for the best deals to save money on items that would otherwise be expensive, such as Playstations, iPads, or the newest phones. Black Friday, however, also brings around a spike in fake websites in order to bait customers into entering their credit card information and “buying” their fake items.

One brand that was mimicked this past Black Friday was Uggs, the company known for their furry boots. The URL “uggusstore.com” will bring you to a fake website with deals on the homepage that advertise their boots as being up to 80 percent off. Aziz Rahman, a senior partner at the law firm Rahman Ravelli, said it’s easy to trick people on Black Friday. He stated, “A sales day such as Black Friday intensifies the desire for a bargain and, therefore, creates a demand that can be filled by people supplying counterfeit goods.”

One other way people attempted to scam customers is through the App Store. The creators of the fake apps purchase search terms in the app store to appear at the top of the results. According to the New York Post, fake apps associated with brands like Coach, Michael Kors, Dollar Tree, Converse, and Louis Vuitton have popped up on the app store this year trying to get people to forfeit their information on the app. According to Chris Mason, CEO of Branding Brand, this hasn’t always been a problem. “This is the first year we’re seeing this kind of proliferation with Apple,” Mason said, “and the brands are losing the game of Whack-a-Mole.”

To avoid these fake websites next time, never buy something from a website through email or through an ad on Facebook or Twitter. Online shopping always comes with its risks, and with online shopping becoming increasingly popular, the amount of fake websites will keep increasing.

 

View Comments (1)
Donate to Spartan Shield
$580
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa. Your contribution will allow us to purchase needed equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
About the Contributor
Alex Wong
Alex Wong, Former Staff Contributor
I'm a member of the Boy’s Varsity swim team, as well as the PV marching band, concert band, and jazz band. My favorite TV show is Breaking Bad. In my free time, my favorite activities are playing ultimate frisbee or watching Netflix. I'm excited to be a part of the new Spartan Shield online and to contribute in any way I can.
Donate to Spartan Shield
$580
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (1)

All Spartan Shield Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • O

    owen wardDec 14, 2016 at 11:46 am

    great article! good read

    Reply
Activate Search
Black Friday sees a spike in fake websites