Black Friday abroad has two risks that a shopper at home does not face in the same way: scams that thrive on urgency, and a final price that can change once duties, taxes, shipping and returns are added. This guide explains how to check a seller before you pay, what the official pages we read say about duties and import tax in the EU and the UK, and what to confirm about delivery and returns when you live somewhere other than the country you are buying from. In 2026, Black Friday is on 27 November, the day after US Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday follows on 30 November.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Customs rules and thresholds differ by country and change. We do not recommend retailers, forwarders, cards or any other product. Check your own country’s customs authority before you buy.
The short version
- The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lists four signs of a scam: pretending to be an organization you know, claiming there is a problem or a prize, pressure to act immediately, and insisting on a specific way to pay.
- UK Action Fraud, in a joint warning with the National Cyber Security Centre, advises using a credit card where possible because it can provide more protection, and avoiding bank transfers.
- A sale price is not your final price. Work out the total with shipping, import duty, VAT or sales tax, currency conversion and the cost of a return before you pay.
- From 1 July 2026, the European Commission says a flat customs duty of 3 euros per item applies to many low-value parcels from outside the EU. The UK government says non-excise goods of 135 pounds or less pay no customs duty, and VAT still applies.
- Check delivery, return and warranty terms for the country you live in, not the country you buy from.
Why this matters more when you live abroad
Remote workers who move often tend to buy less, because they need to carry what they own. When they do buy, usually a laptop, a phone, a monitor or a winter coat, the stakes are higher. A parcel may be stuck at customs in a country where you do not know the process. Your delivery address may change before the parcel arrives. A warranty may apply only in the country of purchase. These are our observations from common nomad experience, and not research.
Part 1: check the seller before you pay
The FTC’s advice on spotting scams lists four signs. We have added what each looks like in a sale season.
| FTC sign | What it looks like on Black Friday | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pretending to be an organization you know | A message or ad that looks like your favourite retailer or a courier | Close the message. Type the retailer’s address yourself or use its official app |
| Claiming there is a problem or a prize | A “failed delivery”, a “locked account” or a “you have won” notice | Log in through the official site, not through the link |
| Pressuring you to act immediately | A countdown timer, “only two left” or “deal ends in ten minutes” | Pause. Compare the price at two other sources. Sleep on large purchases |
| Insisting on a specific way to pay | A site that accepts only bank transfer, crypto, a payment app or gift cards | Walk away |
The FTC page names gift cards, wire transfers and cryptocurrency as payment methods scammers prefer. Its page was last updated in July 2023, so it describes long-standing patterns and not this year’s tricks. If you were scammed, the FTC says to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Other countries have their own reporting bodies. Look up yours and note the address before you need it.
A joint warning from the UK National Cyber Security Centre and Action Fraud, published on 18 November 2024, reported more than 11.5 million pounds lost to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024, with an average loss of 695 pounds per victim. It advises people to use a credit card where possible, because it can provide more protection if anything goes wrong, and to avoid bank transfers if they can. It also advises turning on two-step verification for important accounts, and says never to feel pressured into buying anything online. If something does not feel right, it says to stop, cut contact and not click any links. We read only the UK material for this section, and rights to a refund through a card provider differ by country, so check your own card terms.
For scams aimed at people who live or travel abroad, such as fake rentals, job offers and ATM fraud, see our guide to digital nomad scams.
Part 2: work out the real price
Add each line below before you decide a deal is good. The right-hand column says where to look.
| Cost | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Item price at checkout | The retailer’s page, in the currency it charges |
| Shipping, or forwarding fees if you use a middleman | The checkout page or the forwarder’s calculator, and any handling or storage fee |
| Customs duty | The customs authority of the country where the parcel arrives |
| VAT, sales tax or import tax | The same authority, and the seller’s checkout if it collects tax |
| Currency conversion and card fees | Your card terms. Our guide to dynamic currency conversion and card fees explains how to avoid paying twice |
| Return shipping and restocking fees | The retailer’s returns page for your delivery country |
Here is an illustration with made-up numbers, not real prices. A laptop is 800 in a sale and 900 in the shop where you live. Add 60 for shipping and an assumed 20 percent import tax on the total of 860, which is 172. The sale total is 1,032. The local price is 900 and may include a local warranty. The sale is not cheaper unless the item is hard to find locally.
What two official pages say
European Union. The European Commission says a temporary flat customs duty of 3 euros per item applies to low-value parcels imported from outside the EU, mainly through e-commerce, for goods worth up to 150 euros. It started on 1 July 2026. Items are classified by tariff code, so five T-shirts attract one duty of 3 euros, and three T-shirts plus a watch attract 6 euros. The seller or importer must declare and pay it. The page does not say when the rule ends.
United Kingdom. The UK government page on goods sent from abroad says that for Great Britain, non-excise goods worth 135 pounds or less pay no customs duty, while goods above that value pay duty at a rate that depends on type and origin. VAT applies to all goods except gifts worth 39 pounds or less. For goods totalling 135 pounds or less that you bought yourself, the seller usually includes VAT. For goods above 135 pounds, VAT is paid to the delivery company before delivery or on collection. Duty is charged on the price plus postage, packaging and insurance. Northern Ireland follows different rules. The page shows no update date and does not mention planned changes.
These two examples show how different the rules are. We did not research other countries. Customs authorities publish thresholds and rates for their own countries, and the amounts change, so read the authority’s page for the country where the parcel will arrive.
Part 3: delivery
- Check that the retailer ships to your country. Commercial forwarding guides we read say many deals apply to domestic addresses only. Treat that as a lead and check the retailer’s shipping page.
- Choose an address that will exist when the parcel arrives. A rental you leave in two weeks may be a poor choice for a delivery that takes a month. Pick a stay of at least the delivery window, or a collection point. Our guide to domicile and mail forwarding covers mail handling for US residents.
- Use the courier’s official tracking. Do not click on tracking links in unexpected messages. Type the courier’s address yourself.
- Expect customs questions. Some customs offices ask for an invoice or ID. Keep the receipt and a copy of the listing.
- Think about what you carry. If you will move again soon, consider whether the item fits in your bag. Our packing list covers how to decide.
Part 4: returns and warranty
Many retailers treat returns from abroad differently from returns at home. In our judgment, the points below are worth reading before you buy, and the retailer’s returns page is the place to confirm them.
- Who pays return shipping, and is the label provided for your country?
- How long do you have, and does the clock start at purchase or at delivery? Parcels that take weeks to arrive can use up a short window.
- Will the manufacturer’s warranty cover the item in the country where you live, or only in the country of purchase?
- Do the plug type, voltage and any network or software locks suit where you will use it?
- Is the item restricted in shipping or customs? Batteries, aerosols and some liquids can be limited, according to forwarder guides we read, and rules differ by carrier and country.
A checklist before you click “buy”
- Did I type the retailer’s address myself, or open it from the official app?
- Is the payment method one that offers protection, and not a transfer, gift card or crypto?
- Do I know the full price: item, shipping, duty, tax, currency conversion?
- Will someone be at the delivery address when the parcel arrives?
- Do I know the return rules and warranty terms for my country?
- Is two-step verification on for my retailer and payment accounts?
- Have I waited a few hours on any purchase I felt rushed into?
Our guide to choosing a credit card that works abroad lists what to check about fees, and it does not rank cards.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black Friday in 2026?
Black Friday is on Friday 27 November 2026, the day after US Thanksgiving on Thursday 26 November. Cyber Monday is on 30 November. Retailers often start sales earlier, so check each one.
How do I avoid Black Friday scams?
Type the retailer’s address yourself, be wary of countdowns and messages that push you to act, pay with a method that offers protection, and turn on two-step verification. The FTC lists pressure and a demand for a specific payment method among its four signs of a scam.
Will I pay customs duty on an online order from abroad?
It depends on the country where the parcel arrives, the value and the type of goods. The EU applies a flat 3 euros per item to many low-value parcels from 1 July 2026. Great Britain charges no customs duty on non-excise goods of 135 pounds or less, though VAT applies. Check your destination’s customs authority.
Is it worth using a parcel forwarder?
It can be, when a retailer will not ship abroad, but it adds fees and delays. Work out the total with forwarding, duty and tax before you buy, and compare it with the local price. We do not recommend specific services.
What should I do if I think I have been scammed?
Contact your bank or card provider straight away, then report it to the authority in your country. The FTC says to report US scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and Action Fraud takes reports in the UK. Change passwords on any account you used.
Sources
- US Federal Trade Commission, “How to avoid a scam”, last updated July 2023. consumer.ftc.gov. Accessed October 2026.
- UK National Cyber Security Centre and Action Fraud, “Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams”, 18 November 2024. ncsc.gov.uk. Accessed October 2026.
- European Commission, “Ensuring fairness and safety: 3 euro customs duty for low-value parcels”, 29 June 2026. commission.europa.eu. Accessed October 2026.
- UK Government, “Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad: Tax and duty”, no update date shown. gov.uk. Accessed October 2026.
- Dates for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and US Thanksgiving come from third-party calendars and the fourth-Thursday rule. Forwarding and returns guides from commercial services were read as leads and are not used as evidence. The Australian Scamwatch and ACCC pages returned errors when we tried to open them, so none of their content is used here. Accessed October 2026.
Last reviewed: October 2026. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Customs thresholds, duties and scam tactics change, so check current official guidance before you buy.
