November is the month of fake Black Friday tech deals - here's how to spot them
That Black Friday discount you’re excited about might not be as good a deal as it seems.
Understanding Early Sales and Scams
Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, but retailers like Amazon and Best Buy will have sales running well before then. Some of these sales may be well worth taking advantage of, while others may seem like bargains until you compare prices. Then there are outright scams, including fake storefronts and phishing emails posing as retailer promotions.
For example, a study tracked 175 products across eight retailers from May 2024 to May 2025. The results showed that 83 percent of these items were available for the same price or less at least once outside the four-week Black Friday sales period. That doesn't prove retailers intentionally raised prices, but it's a reminder that a discounted price tells you little on its own. Similarly, security researchers found that scams accounted for a large portion of Black Friday-related spam, including fake coupons and messages impersonating familiar retailers.
Using Price Trackers
If you're buying from major online marketplaces, the best way to check whether a discount is actually worth it is to copy the product URL and paste it into an independent price tracker like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa. Shopping assistants can also display up to 365 days of price history for eligible items. Comparison tools can indicate whether the current price is high, low or typical for the product.
If you see a sharp price increase just before a November sale, it deserves a closer look. For instance, a robot vacuum advertised at a steep discount on Black Friday had actually sold for even less during multiple weeks earlier in the year. Shipping costs and coupon requirements can also raise the final price, making a potential deal much less appealing at checkout.
Do, however, bear in mind that historical lows aren't guaranteed to return. Component costs, such as RAM, can stay high due to market conditions, meaning massive hardware discounts might not materialize.
Avoiding Fraudulent Retailers
Inflated discounts are annoying and misleading, but a fraudulent retailer can ruin your shopping experience entirely. That's why you shouldn't immediately jump on a heavily discounted GPU or gaming console from a vendor you don't recognize. Many scammers will use the same logos and product descriptions as legitimate retailers, lulling you into a false sense of security to acquire your financial information or sell you fake goods.
Instead of clicking on links in unwanted emails or questionable sponsored ads, visit the retailer's site directly. It's always a good practice to check the full web address, seller reviews and return policy before buying. Whenever possible, financial watchdogs suggest using a credit card so you can dispute charges for products that never arrive, and avoiding sellers that demand gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency payments.
The same applies to online marketplaces: Check who's selling the item and not just who's shipping it. Even products fulfilled by a major platform can still be sold by an independent third-party vendor.
