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Surge in Fake Online Shops Ahead of Black Friday 2026

Surge in Fake Online Shops Ahead of Black Friday 2026

First seen 6 Nov 2026, 14:16 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •November 6, 2026 at 14:18 UTC
  • •Fake online shops have surged fivefold in the last 60 days ahead of Black Friday.
  • •Seven security products received certification for effectively detecting fake shops.
  • •Consumers are urged to remain vigilant and use secure payment methods.

AV-Comparatives has reported a fivefold increase in fake online shops in the lead-up to Black Friday 2026. The organization tested 500 fraudulent URLs and 100 legitimate sites, certifying seven security products for their effectiveness in detecting these scams. According to Savi Security, users report a new fake store every three minutes, with 85% disappearing within two weeks. The rise in fake shops poses a significant risk to consumers, especially during the holiday shopping season when discounts attract bargain hunters. The certified products include Avast Premium Security, Bitdefender Total Security, and Norton 360 Deluxe, among others. Consumers are advised to be vigilant, checking for misspellings and extreme discounts, and to use payment methods that offer buyer protection. The testing was conducted from October 1 to 7, 2026.

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Timeline

2026-10-01
AV-Comparatives testing begins
Testing of 500 fake-shop URLs and 100 legitimate websites was conducted to evaluate security products.
av-comparatives.org
2026-10-20
Savi Security reports surge in fake shops
Users report a new fake store every three minutes, totaling 500 per day, with many disappearing quickly.
Prnewswire
2026-11-06
AV-Comparatives publishes Fake-Shop Detection Test results
Seven security products were certified for their ability to detect fake online shops ahead of the holiday season.
Prnewswire

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Common questions

What products were certified for fake shop detection?
The certified products include Avast Premium Security, Bitdefender Total Security, F-Secure Internet Security, Kaspersky Premium, NordVPN -gen antivirus, Norton 360 Deluxe, and Norton VPN Ultimate.
How can consumers protect themselves from fake shops?
Consumers should check for misspellings in web addresses, be cautious of extreme discounts, and use payment methods that offer buyer protection.
What is the current status of fake online shops?
Reports indicate a significant increase in fake online shops, with many disappearing shortly after being created, making detection challenging.