Shoppers should be wary of online scams as Black Friday sales come into full swing this week, police and banks have said.
Last year, online shoppers in the UK were defrauded of £2.5m over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period, an average loss of almost £550 per victim.
According to Action Fraud, more than 28,000 shoppers reported being conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year, up almost two-thirds (61 per cent) compared to 2019.
Shoppers reported making purchases that never arrived, such as mobile phones, electronics, vehicles, clothing and footwear on websites like Facebook, eBay and Gumtree.
Many reported being subsequently targeted by criminals who used their bank details, which they gave while making transactions they thought were genuine.
With this in mind, these are some of the most common Black Friday shopping scams to look out for:
Too good to be true
Some bargains might sound “too good to be true” – which likely means they are not real. Action Fraud director Pauline Smith advises shoppers to “stop and think before making a purchase, as it could protect you and your money”.
“Always shop with official retailers and follow our simple advice to enjoy shopping online safely and ensure you are not left empty-handed this Christmas,” she says.
Fake websites
One of the most common tactics used to trick consumers is the use of fake websites…
