A staggering four in 10 Brits are targeted by more scam attempts during the festive months of November and December.
A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 31% fear falling prey to a scam while doing their Christmas shopping.
According to UK Finance, a record-breaking £85.9 million was swindled by criminals in 156,516 purchase scams last year.
A whopping 92% of these scams were conducted online, marking a 34% increase compared to 2022.
The survey was commissioned by NatWest as part of its ‘Scamvent Calendar’ initiative a unique advent calendar highlighting the 12 most common purchases at risk, available in selected branches from the end of November.
When it comes to gift shopping, a quarter of Brits have spotted an advert they suspect is from a fraudulent website or marketplace listing.
However, nearly half say they are more watchful about scams during the holiday shopping season.
Stuart Skinner, NatWest’s fraud expert, warned: “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, stars from the first series of ” The Traitors “, have joined forces with NatWest to launch a new scam awareness video.
SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
1. Phones
Scammers offer high-demand smartphones at tempting prices. Once the victim pays, they may receive a counterfeit or stolen phone, a completely different item, or nothing at all.
These scams often take place on online marketplaces or via social media ads.
2. Tickets (e.g. concert, theatre, gig tickets)
Fraudsters sell bogus 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 occur through fake websites, social media ads, or email offers.
4. Laptops and tablets
Adverts, often found on social media, can appear to be from trusted retailers such as supermarket chains offering promotions on cut-price laptops from well-known brands often described as inventory clearance.
These ads direct interested buyers to fake registration websites which steal personal details and payment card information.
5. Clothing
Fraudsters set up fake online stores or use social media to sell branded or designer clothing at low prices.
Victims may receive counterfeit items, low-quality knockoffs, or nothing at all. The websites often disappear after a short period.
6. Home tech appliances
Scammers trick consumers into buying non-existent, counterfeit, or inferior home technology products through fake websites, misleading ads, or phishing schemes, often resulting in 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 lure buyers. Once the purchase is made, the buyer receives jewellery of inferior quality or nothing at all.
8. Video games
Fraudsters are capitalising on the popularity of video games, particularly those that are newly released or highly sought-after. They often offer these games at discounted prices or claim to have rare editions.
Unfortunately, victims may end up with counterfeit copies, different games, or in some cases, nothing at all.
9. Cars and other vehicles
These scams typically involve fraudulent sellers who pose as legitimate dealers or private sellers, offering vehicles at prices that seem too good to be ‘true’.
Scammers often use fake listings, doctored vehicle history reports, or pressure tactics to get the buyer to pay upfront deposits or full payments without ever delivering the car.
10. Watches
Scammers advertise luxury or branded watches at significant 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 fake websites.
11. Luxury handbags
These scams target buyers looking for designer handbags, often at a discounted rate.
Scammers may use fake websites, social media ads, or online marketplaces to sell counterfeit bags as authentic ones. Buyers may end up with a fake 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 poor quality, a completely different product, or nothing at all.
