Lloyds Bank has issued a stark warning after people have been tricked into parting with their cash.
The alert comes amid a surge in purchase scams, where fraudsters lure customers into sending money for goods or services, that don’t exist. Lloyds said such scams involving shoes and trainers have risen by 152% this year.
Victims lose an average of £152 – and Lloyds said Nike is one of the most common labels currently being used to promote this type of scam.
READ MORE: Rare 50p coin sells for £135 with thousands more in circulation
The UK’s largest bank also said another item that’s seen an “explosion” in reported purchase scams this year is tickets, as fraudsters exploit people’s renewed desire to attend live events following the easing of covid restrictions.
While the overall number of ticket scams being reported is lower than some other items, the number of cases being reported has rocketed by a massive 603% already this year. The average amount lost is £251, with football matches and concerts the events most likely to appear in fake adverts.
Many consumers remain unaware that bank transfers were not designed as a way of paying for goods and services online, and therefore offer little protection if something goes wrong. Buyers who pay by credit card or debit card benefit from the well-established Section 75 and Chargeback rules which have been protecting customers for decades.
Liz Ziegler, retail fraud and financial crime director at Lloyds Bank, said:…
