As Black Friday approaches, Greek consumers are preparing for the shopping frenzy—but a new survey shows many are more excited than confident, leaving them vulnerable to online scams.
The survey, conducted by Revolut in collaboration with Dynata, found that only 8% of Greeks feel highly confident in their ability to identify fake websites or fraudulent social media offers. Confidence is particularly low among older generations, with 51% of those aged 45–54 and 43% of those aged 55–64 expressing doubt in their ability to spot online scams.
Even among younger shoppers, often considered digital natives, only 14% of Gen Z respondents feel very confident navigating potential traps. Yet overconfidence doesn’t guarantee safety: 18% of Greeks have fallen victim to online fraud, and 61% worry it could happen to them. Among those affected, 10% reported losses exceeding €1,000 during Black Friday sales.
Woody Malouf, head of Revolut’s Financial Crime division, emphasized the rising sophistication of online fraud: “As shopping increasingly moves to social media platforms, scammers are becoming better at mimicking trusted brands. The best defense is caution—if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. Always shop on reputable sites with positive reviews.”
The survey also highlighted generational differences in shopping habits. Gen Z is more likely to be influenced by social media ads, with 30% citing them as their primary source of deals. In contrast, Gen X and Baby Boomers prefer traditional retail websites, at 39% and 40% respectively. Influencer recommendations were the least relied upon, with only 5% using them to find deals.
To stay safe, experts recommend:
- Verify URLs: Ensure the website is genuine before making purchases.
- Be cautious of unusually low prices: Some products may be counterfeit or never delivered.
- Check online reviews: Confirm the legitimacy of stores before buying.
- Avoid new or suspicious social media stores: Many fake shops appear briefly before disappearing.
- Monitor shipping and emails carefully: Verify sender addresses and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
