Fed-up families waiting for their Christmas presents to be delivered are rich picking for online scammers this year, and anxious parents have been warned to be on their guard against falling for clever con tricks.
From parcel delivery scams to sites claiming to have stock of sold-out toys, Christmas criminals are in force just now, preying on households in a rush to get things sorted as the days tick down to the big day. Shoppers are being urged to be on their guard against fraudsters looking to cash in on the last-minute present buying frenzy this year.
According to Lloyds Bank, there was a 20% rise in the number of online shopping scams in December last year compared to December 2020, and the typical victim was tricked into handing over £427. Those aged 55 and 64 who fell for the cons lost around £1,000 on average. Capital One UK reckons 1.9 million Britons say they were scammed last year and a further three million fear they may have been scammed.
Read more: Five scams to watch out for on Facebook Marketplace
Here we have a look at what to watch out for:
Fake parcel delivery scams
As most families are waiting for a delivery of some sort at this time of the year, this is a great way for scammers to cash in.
The usual way fraudsters use to lure you in is to send a fake email or text message, claiming a parcel is awaiting delivery, and asking the recipient to click on a link to pay a fee in order to collect it. The research found that more than a quarter of people click on links in messages that appear to come from a delivery company, and if you do, you'll find the website you land on will ask for personal and banking details. They will then use this information to impersonate your bank, and ask you to transfer money.
James Walker, chief executive of data protection firm Rightly told This Is Money: "There are many varieties of this scam. One claiming to be from the Post Office, for example, asks you to pay a fee and provide some personal information so that a parcel can be delivered. Then, scammers use the information to contact you, maybe by phone, to convince you that they are really from the company. One thing leads to another and eventually they've emptied your bank account.
'Keep ahead of the scammers. If you get a message like this, ask yourself 'Am I expecting a parcel?' At this time of year, you may well be, but always remember, neither the Post Office nor any major courier company will ever ask you to enter personal data via a text message - they just wouldn't do that. So you can assume if you have a message like this, it's a scam. If you want to check on a delivery, go direct to the seller's website, or the real courier company directly, not by clicking on a link you've been sent.'
Surprise stock of in-demand goods
Most of these scams start via online platforms such as Instagram or Facebook Marketplace, with victims lured in by the promise of cut-prices or hard-to-find goods. The most common items supposedly on offer in December include trainers, clothes, gaming consoles and phones - in other words, big-ticket items people may be struggling to afford.
Mr Walker said: "Customers can't believe their luck - they've found the perfect present and the kids will be super excited. They pay for the gift. It never arrives. Always remember, if it looks too good to be true, then it almost certainly is."
Dodgy websites
Lloyds also found that a third of people take more of a risk at Christmas when shopping online, especially of they are looking for items that are hard to track down. Around one in five people said they would take more risk in order to find the cheapest price and parents in particular are warned to be on their guard for scammers exploiting their desire to get this year's most in-demand toys for their children.
Mr Walker said: "Often, through hype and stories either in the media or on social media, a particular gift becomes the "must-have" present for that year. In the past it's been the latest PlayStation, or one year it was the Woody doll from Toy Story that no one could find for love nor money in the run up to Christmas. The scam occurs when scammers present fake websites claiming to sell the essential gift. The demand for a particular gift is a gift itself to scammers."
The research also found that more than half of people still consider a bank transfer to be a safe payment method for buying items online, despite it offering much less protection than paying by credit or debit card.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said: ''The safest way to pay for things online is always by debit or credit card, and buy from a trusted retailer. Remember that if a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is.'
Six steps to avoid the scams
Lloyds has issued the following tips and warnings to stay safe as you finish off your Christmas shopping:
- Always use your debit or credit card when you shop online. This helps to protect your money should anything go wrong.
- Low prices and great deals can hide scams. See if you can find them elsewhere.
- Fraudsters use social media to post scam offers. They can even send them straight to your inbox.
- Make sure a seller or website is genuine. Look for good reviews from different buyers. Be wary of mixed, bad or no reviews at all.
- Ask questions before you buy. If a seller can't give any details about an item or tries to hurry you into paying, it's a sign of a scam
- Never click on links in messages, even if you think you know the sender. Visit the genuine website of the delivery company to track a parcel.
What to do if you fall for a scam
If you have either been a victim of a scam or spot a suspicious website, you can report this in several ways:
Fraud and cyber crime can be reported to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud.
You can also report internet scams and phishing to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Suspicious websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
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