Cyber security experts have reminded consumers of the risks of shopping online head of Black Friday – the biggest shopping day of the year.

With most consumers indicating their preference for online shopping in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the potential risk of falling victim to cyber crime remains high.

Tech expert Preetesh Sewraj explains some of the measures that can help safeguard against online threats.

“Online shopping poses a fantastic option to going into stores and these days you get a lot of great deals online but on that online environment you have to be careful. There are reputable retailers and there are others who pose as reputable but are a scam.”

“The number 1 thing you can do is to look for reputable retailers who are large and big and have been around for the long time. What you should be wary of is smaller retailers who pop up [suddenly],” explains Sewraj.

Below is the full interview with Preetesh Sewraj:

Security experts are already witnessing an increase in counterfeit eCommerce sites that appear to be legitimate brands.

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of cash-strapped consumers’ increased desire to save money – partly due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the video below, Marketing Coordinator at ESET and Cybersecurity Specialist, Shaun Pakade shares some tips on safe online shopping: