Black Friday is fast approaching but amid so many deals it is important to be aware that some things are too good to be true.  

Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly said the most important thing is to be sure you’re buying from a reputable outlet. 

“I don’t want to be a buzzkill but the first thing I would say is - do your research,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“If you’re on Instagram or Facebook, all of these ads will pop up saying ‘50% Off’ or ‘75% Off - Buy from this website’. 

“If it’s a website you’ve never bought from before, just pop it into Google, go to something like Trust Pilot and you will see any red flags instantly. 

“So, you’ll see bad reviews, items missing, all that sort of stuff.” 

Another thing that to be wary of is exceptionally low prices because “if something seems too good to be true, chances are it is.” 

Aa woman using a laptop.

Furthermore, if you have a mobile phone, then it is easier than ever to make sure your card details do not end up in the hands of fraudsters.   

“My top tip for the day is, if you’re shopping with your phone, pay with either Apple Pay or Google Pay,” she said. 

“Or better again, use the digital card that comes with your Revolut. So, if you are a Revolut customer, this is a much safer way because it means you’re not manually inputting your credit card details into a website. 

“So, if a database gets hacked and you’re using a one-time card, the hacker’s got nothing on you - so it’s all good.” 

Finally, the amount of phishing or scam text messages has increased enormously in recent years and Jess expects there to be a “massive spike” from fraudsters pretending to be delivery companies. 

“Do not click on a link and never put your personal information on a link that arrives in via text or via email,” she said. 

Black Friday originated in the United States and falls on the day after Thanksgiving when many Americans take time off from work. 

It has grown in popularity on this side of the Atlantic in recent years and Irish customers now spend an estimated €25,000 a minute on the day itself.

Main image: A Black Friday advertisement in Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com