Cyber Monday is often cast as the online version of Black Friday. Increasingly, though, the same rock-bottom bargains found in the stores on the day after Thanksgiving are also making their way online - on Black Friday.

While online shoppers don’t have to worry about the stress of navigating packed malls and sometimes aggressive shopping mobs, Black Friday is no ordinary online shopping day, and consumers should plan accordingly as they digest their Thanksgiving Day meal.

Monitor Black Friday Sites and Apps

There are a slew of websites and apps devoted to finding and aggregating post-Thanksgiving deals. These range from coupon gathering websites to offers made by retailers directly to Facebook fans or Twitter followers. At the same time, don't take these as the final word. Use the comparison shopping sites such as PriceGrabber.com to make sure the proffered bargains are really being offered at the lowest cost.

Online Doorbusters?

Doorbusters - those $10 DVR players and $200 flat-screen TV priced to bring shoppers in the door -  can also be found online, so check retailers' sites directly on Friday, according to Dan de Grandpre, editor in chief of dealnews,  (via PC World). "Retailers often say they won't sell doorbusters online, but that's not always true. Last year, for instance, Wal-Mart offered all of its doorbusters online - but not until later in the day on Friday."

Start Early

If it won't cause too much social discord, check the retail sites on Thanksgiving. Some retailers jump the gun and start their online sales as early as midday Thanksgiving, according to Michael Brim, president of Black Friday deal site BFAds, also interviewed by PC World. Others start between midnight and 3 a.m. (Eastern) on Friday.

What Out for Scams

Scammers are out there in growing numbers and increasingly targeting social media, where a lot of bargains are being advertised. When making a purchase, look for an unbroken key or padlock at the bottom of the web browser, Capital One advises. Also, the URL address should change from http to shttp or https when it's time to order and pay, indicating that the purchase is encrypted or secured. Finally, the bank said, look for online merchants who are members of a seal-of-approval program that sets voluntary guidelines for privacy-related practices, such as TRUSTe, Verisign, or BBBonline.