How to stay safe online while making the most of festive-season shopping
As the countdown to Christmas begins, we’re heading into the busiest shopping season of the year. Whether you're hunting for deals or ticking off your gift list, the excitement can make you an easy target.
The holiday rush is peak time for scammers. With year-end sales and a flood of online orders, scammers know shoppers are distracted and eager to save, so they create fake websites, delivery notices, and discount offers that look convincingly real.
The good news? A few simple safety steps mean you can shop confidently and focus on what matters: finding the best discounts to save you money.
Watch out for these common online shopping scams
Scammers usually have one goal: to steal your money or personal or banking details. Here's how they do it:
Fake delivery notices
Scammers send fake SMSs or emails pretending to be courier companies. They claim your parcel is delayed or needs a small fee to be released.
Examples can include:
- “Urgent: Verify your details or lose your package: [LINK]”
- “Delivery attempt failed. An R34 release fee is due. Confirm payment here: [LINK]”
How to stay safe: Never click on the links in these messages. Go directly to the courier's official app or website to check your parcel status. Legitimate couriers don’t ask for fees or personal details via SMS.
Red flag: An email or SMS with a link requesting payment
Social media scams
Scammers copy real retailer websites and run fake social media ads to promote huge discounts.
How to stay safe: Check the URL carefully. Fake sites often have extra letters or hyphens, or may be missing some of the details that make them legitimate. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Red flag: A URL with extra characters or without https:// or the lock icon.
Vishing, phishing and smishing scams
During the holiday season, scammers step up fake calls (vishing), emails (phishing), and SMSs (smishing), pretending to be from banks, retailers, or courier services. They might claim there’s fraud on your account or a problem with your delivery. Then they try to trick you: click this link, scan this QR code, share your OTP, or move funds to a “secure” account. Through spoofing, scammers mimic phone numbers and email addresses to make their communication appear legitimate.
How to stay safe: Never click links or scan QR codes from emails or texts. Don’t share your OTP or transfer funds. Even if the email or caller ID looks like your bank, stay alert.
Red flag: Any request to click a link, scan a QR code, share your OTP, or transfer funds.
Shop smarter and stack your savings
Shopping the sales isn't just about the discount on the price tag; it’s also about how much you actually save.
Use your rewards strategically. If you're a UCount Rewards member, this is your moment. Earning up to 40% back in rewards on groceries and other essentials means that your R2,000 shop at Makro, Game, Dis-Chem or Baby City could give you back R800. Stack that with Black Friday sales and you're getting a discount on your discount.
Don't let FOMO win. Check if any UCount Rewards partners have better deals than the flashy ad you just saw. Sometimes the real saving is when you factor in rewards.
How to keep your card safe
Never let your card leave your hand. Whether you tap or swipe, make sure you set a low contactless limit so larger amounts always ask for a PIN. It’s an extra step that protects you if your card gets cloned or stolen.
And if you want even more security, use a virtual card, which has a dynamic CVV. The best part is that you will still earn your UCount Rewards.
Your festive shopping checklist
Before you hit the shops, take these steps:
- Set up your virtual card.
- Check your UCount Rewards retail partners so you know where your points go the furthest.
- Set a contactless limit.
- Bookmark official retailer websites.
Then shop like you mean it. The deals are real, your rewards are stacking, and the scammers? They're not getting anywhere near your hard-earned cash.