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.
