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Stay Safe This Black Friday: With SWIRL Card

November 24, 2025
10:36 am

Black Friday can be brilliant for value and brutal for fraud. Phishing spikes, fake discounts, and cloned websites all ramp up through November. UK cyber authorities warned shoppers after losses exceeded £11 million in just one Black Friday season, while security firms tracked 600%+ surges in scam attempts around the sales period. NCSC+1 In Ireland, the CCPC reported declining trust in Black Friday deals, and AIB data shows shoppers still spend heavily—€105m online on Black Friday alone—making vigilance essential. CCPC+1

Below is a clear, practical guide on how you can stay safe this Black Friday, plus why using a Swirl Card adds a strong layer of protection for all consumers.

Why Black Friday attracts scammers (and how to stay ahead)

Scammers exploit urgency, scarce stock warnings, and “too-good-to-be-true” pricing to push shoppers onto fake checkouts or phishing pages. Reports found three in four Black Friday–themed emails in 2024 were scams, and holiday-themed phishing skyrocketed week over week in November. Bitdefender+1

Your playbook for Black Friday safety:

Slow the scroll. Verify the domain, return policy, and contact details before paying.

Avoid off-platform deals. Don’t go “off-site” for a cheaper cash price or P2P transfer. Irish advisories highlight cloned and “second sale” sites during this period. Meath Chronicle

Use strong passwords & 2FA. Secure your email and retailer accounts.

Check the padlock isn’t a fig leaf. HTTPS helps to confirm you’re on the real brand’s domain.

Keep receipts and order numbers. You’ll need them if something goes wrong.

How Swirl Card adds security during Black Friday

A Swirl Card is a prepaid Mastercard that ring-fences spend. You load the card with a fixed amount—ideal for Black Friday budgets.

Security advantages:

Limited exposure. You only spend what’s loaded. If a merchant turns out bogus, your risk never touches your main bank account. Prepaid helps limit losses vs. debit, which draws straight from your account.
In-app visibility. You can view transactions and check balances in real time, which helps spot anything unusual quickly.
Suspend if unsure. If a transaction looks wrong, you can suspend the card —no waiting on bank holds.
Better controls for Finance. You can cap the amount that you are spending.

Black Friday best practices with Swirl Card

Black Friday budgeting that prevents overspend

Issue Swirl Card balances that you intended on spending during black Friday. The prepaid format stops unplanned top-ups and keeps spend inside your limit—particularly useful when “flash deals” tempt impulse buys.

Black Friday phishing: fast checks before you pay

Ensure a 60-second pre-checkout routine: URL spelling, returns page, recent reviews, and real-world contact info. National cyber bodies warn that holiday shopping brings more opportunities for scams—simple checks save headaches. ncsc.gov.ie

Black Friday fraud playbook if something goes wrong

Suspend the card in the app.
Contact the merchant with order details.
Reach support with the transaction reference.
Change passwords if you clicked a suspicious link.
Monitor the card for follow-on attempts.

Black Friday, compliance —why Swirl Card

Black Friday is full of opportunity and risk. With phishing attempts, cloned websites, and fake discounts rising sharply around the sales period, the smartest step you can take is to protect both your money and your peace of mind.

Swirl Card gives you control, visibility, and security when you need it most. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or rewarding your team, using Swirl helps you stay on budget, minimise fraud exposure, and enjoy the real value of Black Friday without the worry.

Stay safe this Black Friday and get your free Swirl Card today at SWIRL Mastercard