November 23, is this year’s Black Friday, an informal name for the day following Thanksgiving that marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

With the huge drop in prices, also comes a spending frenzy that can be dangerous to you and your wallet.

Now everyone knows the obvious dangers of Black Friday: aggressive drivers, people willing to fight over products, or even falling victim to spending too much; however, Black Friday shopping is also a golden opportunity for thieves of all kinds.

The first types are obvious, pickpockets, and easy enough to deter.

• Keep your purse or wallet close to you at all times
• Do not take out your money until you’re asked
• Keep your wallet in your front pocket rather than your back one
• If you’re wearing a backpack, keep it in front of you

Now the second type of thief, electronic card hackers, takes a little more finesse to dissuade.

• Only use one credit card, so that if your information does get leaked, only one of your cards is compromised.
• Save your receipts
• Monitor your account closely for suspicious activity
• Avoid ATMs, or using your PIN at all.

If you are going to be taking part in the Black Friday spending extravaganza, remember these tips, so that you can have the best holiday shopping possible.