How to avoid scams and get the best bargains when doing your Black Friday and Christmas shopping
These expert tips could help you to avoid fraudsters trying to cash in on the shopping bonanza
Black Friday (November 24) is fast approaching, and with budgets squeezed by living costs, shoppers will be feeling the pressure to find a bargain.
While there will be deals to be had, scammers will also be getting ready to strike as people get swept up in the excitement of the shopping bonanza.
They may clone the websites of genuine retailers, or offer goods which are shoddy or do not exist.
According to the latest figures from UK Finance, which represents the banking and finance industry, £40.9 million was lost to purchase scams in the first half of this year.
Purchase scams accounted for two-thirds (66%) of authorised push payment (APP) scam cases – which happens when someone is tricked into transferring money to a fraudster – in the first half of this year.
Paul Maskall, manager of fraud and cybercrime prevention at UK Finance, says: “In the run-up to Christmas we are often making more purchases than usual and looking for a great deal on items to save a bit of money where we can.
“Criminals will use a range of tactics to entice you into making a purchase and trick you into thinking that you are buying from a genuine seller. For example, they may impersonate a known company or offer high-value goods at a fraction of the cost.”
The ease and convenience with which people can list products for sale online “with a couple of clicks” – and without having to prove you actually own the item at all – means this process can be manipulated by criminals, Maskall warns.
Criminals can manipulate the ease and convenience of selling items online to offer goods which are shoddy or do not exist
He continues: “It is important in the run-up to Christmas, where you might be excited to find a great deal for gifts, to follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and be on the lookout for potentially fraudulent advertisements.”
The campaign encourages people to take a pause before parting with their money or personal information. Remember that criminals will try to rush or panic you into making a purchase and if you do think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately as well as the police.
Scams can be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the Action Fraud website. If you are in Scotland, shopping scams can be reported to Police Scotland directly by calling 101. You can also contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
Explaining how scams can be made to look very convincing, Maskall explains: “Criminals may use images taken from genuine sellers with the aim of convincing you they’re selling legitimate products.
Criminals may send fake receipts to keep up the pretence
“They may also set up cloned websites of retailers with subtle changes to the URL, aiming to trick you into thinking you’re purchasing from the genuine site.
“To create further illusions of legitimacy, criminals may also ask for payment prior to delivery and then send fake receipts or invoices that appear to be from the payment provider.”
He says it’s important to be safe and think carefully about deals, example, if you find products which are heavily discounted or are being sold at an incredibly cheap price.
“You might also be rushed into ordering the product or service so that you don’t miss the supposed deal,” says Maskall.
Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police.
Our @TakeFive to Stop Fraud campaign provides impartial advice that people can use to help protect themselves from financial fraud: https://t.co/CT4Q4lPjBp. #TakeFive #StopChallengeProtect
— UK Finance (@UKFtweets) October 25, 2023
“Criminals may also ask you to pay via bank transfer instead of secure payment options that online platforms should offer. It is also important to check online reviews of the website before you buy.”
It’s also worth remembering that, even when dealing with genuine retailers, the best bargains aren’t necessarily to be had on Black Friday.
It could be worth doing some research on price tracking websites to see if prices for certain items are actually cheaper than you would normally expect them to be.
You could also make use of websites which compare the prices of the same product across different retailers.
Make sure you do your research ahead of Black Friday to grab the best bargains
Websites such as PriceRunner, PriceSpy and Camelcamelcamel (which tracks prices on Amazon) could be useful research tools.
Research by PriceSpy, based on prices last year, indicates that many popular products on Black Friday can be found cheaper – or for the same price – at other times of year.
The website suggests that looking at slightly older and less popular models can be one way to bag a bargain.
You could also make sure you’re signed up to the mailing lists of your favourite retailers, in case they have any additional money-off codes for use on Black Friday.
Don’t forget to see if you could get cashback on your purchase via cashback websites such as TopCashback and Quidco.
Many retailers also start sales well before Black Friday itself as they try to get ahead of the rest of the pack – so keep your eyes peeled for the best bargains.
The Press Association
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