Black Friday takes place this Friday, 29 November 2019.

Whether you plan on staying home and shopping online or head out to join the crowds, remember that the best deals will sell out quickly, so you’ll want to be the first in the queue (whether that's online or in person) to avoid disappointment.

Remember it is your right to opt out of any communication you do not want to receive.

The DMASA has something called the Do Not Contact Me List (DNC) for consumers which aids in reducing the number of unsolicited calls, emails and SMS's, basically for consumers who do not want to be contacted for marketing purposes.

The register ensures that you are not contacted by DMASA members only.

You voluntarily register yourself on this list, it takes 6 weeks to be updated on our side – see: https://www.dmasa.org/page/register-opt-out-service.

Send all unsolicited communication complaints to complaints@dmasa.org for assistance.

Norton LifeLock has put together some things to look out for while online shopping:

  • Consider doing online business only with retailers you trust and have shopped with before.
  • Do your research on the company - If there’s no email address, phone number or address location, that could be a red flag that it’s a fake company. Some website may exist only to get your personal information.
  • Avoid public Wi-Fi - Shopping online usually means giving out information that an identity thief would love to grab, including your name and credit card information.
  • If you must shop online on public Wi-Fi, use a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN means you’ll likely have a safe way to shop online while you’re on public Wi-Fi.
  • Help keep your account safe by locking it with a strong password, use a complex set of lowercase and uppercase numbers, letters, and symbols.
  • Check out the webpage security.
  • You’ve probably seen that small lock icon in the corner of your URL field
  • Watch out for email scams: Clicking on emails from unknown senders and unrecognizable sellers could infect your computer with viruses and malware.
  • Don’t give out more information than you need to
  • Pay with a credit card
  • Check your statements for fraudulent charges at least once a week or set up account alerts.
  • Keep these items in a safe place: the receipt, order confirmation number and postal tracking number.