FlySafair Warns SA Travellers As Black Friday Scammers Launch Deepfakes And Fake Deals

South Africans are gearing up for the Black Friday rush, but FlySafair says the season’s excitement is quickly becoming a playground for cybercriminals. With travel sales, holiday planning and last-minute bargain hunting all peaking at once, scammers are taking full advantage of the chaos.

A Perfect Storm For Scams

Black Friday has become something of a national event in South Africa. The queues, the countdowns, the WhatsApp group links, the last-minute bargains, the FOMO purchases – this is exactly the kind of environment scammers wait for.

According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre, more than 100,000 cyber-attacks were recorded in 2024 alone, costing victims an estimated R1.8 billion. That figure jumped by 86 percent in just a year, a reminder that cybercrime is accelerating faster than many South Africans realise.

FlySafair Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon says the sense of urgency around Black Friday is part of the problem.
“Time pressure, irresistible discounts and high transaction volumes make consumers more susceptible. Criminals know this and use it to their advantage,” he said.

Deepfakes, Fake Pages And Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals

What makes this year different is the level of sophistication behind the scams. FlySafair says cybercriminals are no longer relying on poorly designed fake emails or misspelled website URLs.

AI-generated deepfakes are now being used to impersonate brands or even airline staff, making fake videos, messages and voice notes sound credible. In some cases, entire websites are being cloned to look nearly identical to the airline’s real booking platform.

Fraudsters have also become bolder on social media. Fake FlySafair pages are popping up with unbelievable “specials” like unlimited flights for under R100. Many South Africans have already been sharing screenshots on social platforms, warning others not to fall for these too-good-to-be-true offers.

One X user wrote, “I almost clicked that unlimited R99 thing. These scammers are wild.” Another added, “If FlySafair was selling unlimited flights, we’d all be at the airport already.”

New Tricks: Malicious QR Codes And SMS Scams

Because Black Friday comes with a flood of legitimate promotions, scammers blend in easily. Fake courier notifications, account verification alerts and malicious QR codes are becoming common. Some of these messages look identical to the real thing and are timed perfectly to hit when shoppers expect package updates.

FlySafair says travellers should double-check URLs every time they click, ensuring it reads exactly as flysafair.co.za.

The Rise In PNR Fraud

Another worrying trend is criminals requesting Passenger Name Records, claiming they need the details to process refunds or confirm bookings. Gordon stresses that the airline will never request PNRs through unsolicited messages.

“If you receive such a request, contact us directly via official channels,” he said.

Staying Safe This Black Friday

With South Africans shopping more online than ever, especially ahead of the festive season, FlySafair says public awareness is one of the most powerful ways to prevent fraud.

If you’re unsure about a promotion, competition or communication, the airline urges customers to visit flysafair.co.za or contact customer service through verified channels only.

This Black Friday, the best deal might not be the cheapest flight, but the peace of mind that comes from slowing down, double-checking and staying one step ahead of the scammers.

{Source:IOL}

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