During November and December, four out of 10 Brits report an increase in scam approaches. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 31 per cent fear falling prey to a scam while doing their Christmas shopping.
According to UK Finance, last year saw a record £85.9 million stolen by criminals in 156,516 purchase scams. A staggering 92 per cent of these scams originated online, marking a 34 per cent rise compared to 2022.
The survey was conducted by NatWest as part of its ‘Scamvent Calendar’ initiative a unique advent calendar available in selected branches from the end of November, highlighting the 12 most common purchases at risk.
A quarter of Brits have spotted an advert they suspect is from a fraudulent website or marketplace listing when shopping for gifts.
But shoppers admit they are more vigilant about scams during the festive shopping period.
Stuart Skinner, NatWest’s fraud expert, commented: “We all know that now is the time of year when a lot of us will be shopping; either for a Black Friday deal or getting ahead of our Christmas shopping list.”
“We want the UK public to feel confident in taking action today to keep their money safe, so we’re reminding everyone to watch out for purchase scams. You have to be careful when buying online because you can’t always be sure what you’re getting.”
“Take a few minutes to go through our top tips or visit our Security Centre for more shopping guides.”
“That could make all the difference between having a happy and safe experience, or you or your loved ones going through the heartache of losing money to criminals this season.”
Hannah Byczkowski and Wilf Webster, familiar faces from series one of “The Traitors”, have teamed up with NatWest to launch a new scam awareness video.
TOP 12 SCAMS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
1. Phones
Scammers advertise high-demand smartphones at attractive prices. Once the victim pays, they may receive a counterfeit or stolen phone, a completely different item, or nothing at all.
These scams often occur on online marketplaces or through social media ads.
2. Tickets eg. concert, theatre, gig tickets
Fraudsters sell fake or non-existent tickets to events such as concerts, sports games, or theatre shows. Victims either receive counterfeit tickets that are not accepted at the venue or no tickets at all, despite making a payment.
3. Online vouchers or gift cards
Fraudsters sell fake or invalid gift vouchers at attractive prices. Victims purchase these vouchers only to find that they cannot be redeemed. These scams often happen through fake websites, social media ads, or email offers.
4. Laptops and tablets
Adverts, frequently seen on social media, often appear to be from trusted retailers such as supermarket chains offering promotions on discounted laptops from well-known brands typically described as inventory clearance. These ads guide potential buyers to fraudulent registration websites that pilfer personal details and payment card information.
5. Clothing fraud accounts
Fraudsters establish counterfeit online stores or utilise social media to sell branded or designer clothing at reduced prices. Victims may receive fake items, low-quality imitations, or nothing at all. These websites often vanish after a brief period.
6. Home tech appliances, such as vacuum cleaners and microwaves
Con artists deceive consumers into purchasing non-existent, counterfeit, or substandard home technology products through bogus websites, misleading advertisements, or phishing schemes, often leading to financial loss and undelivered goods.
7. Jewellery
Scammers sell counterfeit or misrepresented jewellery as genuine items, often at inflated prices. They might use convincing photos, ‘false’ certifications, or claims of authenticity to entice buyers. Once the purchase is made, the buyer receives jewellery of inferior quality or nothing at all.
8. Video games
Fraudsters capitalise on the popularity of video games, particularly those that are newly released or highly in demand. They might offer these games at reduced prices or claim to have exclusive editions. Victims may end up with fake copies, different games, or nothing at all.
9. Cars and other vehicles (e.g. campervans)
These scams involve deceitful sellers pretending to be genuine dealers or private sellers, offering vehicles at prices that appear too good to be ‘true’. Scammers might use bogus listings, manipulated vehicle history reports, or pressure tactics to persuade the buyer to pay upfront deposits or full payments without ever delivering the car.
10. Watches
Scammers advertise luxury or branded watches at substantial discounts. Once the victim pays, they may receive a counterfeit watch, a different item, or nothing at all. These scams often target buyers through online marketplaces or fraudulent websites.
11. Luxury handbags
These scams prey on buyers seeking designer handbags, often at a reduced rate. Scammers may use counterfeit websites, social media ads, or online marketplaces to sell fake bags as genuine ones. Buyers may end up with a counterfeit product or, in some cases, no product at all after making a payment.
12. Trainers and shoes
Scammers are offering popular or limited-edition trainers and shoes at discounted prices. The unsuspecting buyer either receives counterfeit products of substandard quality, a completely different product, or nothing at all.