Scroll down for the database of purchases astir astatine hazard of being a scam
- Published: 16:21, 25 Nov 2024
- Updated: 16:21, 25 Nov 2024
CONCERT tickets, jewellery and decorator handbags are among the astir apt purchases scamming Brits, probe has revealed.
Four successful 10 Brits person much scam approaches during November and December.
A canvass of 2,000 adults recovered 31 per cent are anxious they’ll autumn unfortunate to a scam erstwhile doing their contiguous buying.
A grounds £85.9 cardinal was stolen by criminals successful 156,516 acquisition scams past year, according to UK Finance.
And 92 per cent of these originated online, which is simply a 34 per cent summation compared to 2022.
The canvass was commissioned by NatWest arsenic portion of its ‘Scamvent Calendar’ motorboat – which is simply a unsocial twist connected an advent calendar which is disposable successful selected branches from the extremity of November, to item the 12 astir communal purchases astatine risk.
Stuart Skinner, NatWest’s fraud expert, said: "We each cognize that present is the clip of twelvemonth erstwhile a batch of america volition beryllium shopping; either for a Black Friday woody oregon getting up of our Christmas buying list.
“We privation the UK nationalist to consciousness assured successful taking enactment contiguous to support their money safe, truthful we're reminding everyone to ticker retired for acquisition scams.
“You person to beryllium cautious erstwhile buying online due to the fact that you can’t ever beryllium definite what you’re getting. Take a fewer minutes to spell done our apical tips oregon sojourn our Security Centre for much shopping guides.
“That could marque each the quality betwixt having a blessed and harmless experience, oregon you oregon your loved ones going done the heartache of losing wealth to criminals this season. "
The probe went connected to find 25 per cent person encountered an advert they judge to beryllium a scam oregon a fake website oregon integer marketplace listing, portion buying for presents during the holiday season.
And astir fractional (46 per cent) revealed they are much vigilant astir scams during the festive buying period.
Love Island’s Amy Hart opens up astir the terrifying infinitesimal she was scammed for £5k and says ‘I felt truthful humiliated’
Hannah Byczkowski and Wilf Webster, acquainted faces from bid 1 of "The Traitors", person teamed up with NatWest to motorboat a caller scam consciousness video.
Drawing connected their ain experiences of navigating deception and spot connected the show, Hannah and Wilf person flipped the script and are present helping to amended the nationalist astir the dangers of fraudulent online purchases, particularly during the vacation season.
Hannah explains successful the video: “Every calendar comes with adept tips to assistance you spot and debar fashionable festive scams. So, don’t fto scammers instrumentality a wound retired of finances this festive season.”
Wilf added: “From fake gig tickets, too-good-to-be-true tech deals, and adjacent cute favored ads – scammers usage tonnes of tricks to effort and bargain your cash.”
THE 12 PURCHASES MOST AT RISK OF BEING A SCAM:
Phones – 26 per cent
Scammers advertise high-demand smartphones astatine charismatic prices. Once the unfortunate pays, they whitethorn person a counterfeit oregon stolen phone, a wholly antithetic item, oregon thing astatine all. These scams often hap connected online marketplaces oregon done societal media ads.
Tickets (e.g. concert, theatre, gig tickets) – 23 per cent
Fraudsters merchantability fake oregon non-existent tickets to events specified arsenic concerts, sports games, oregon theatre shows. Victims either person counterfeit tickets that are not accepted astatine the venue oregon nary tickets astatine all, contempt making a payment.
Online vouchers oregon acquisition cards – 23 per cent
Fraudsters merchantability fake oregon invalid acquisition vouchers astatine charismatic prices. Victims acquisition these vouchers lone to find that they cannot beryllium redeemed. These scams often hap done fake websites, societal media ads, oregon email offers.
Laptops and tablets – 21 per cent
Adverts, often connected societal media, which look to beryllium from trusted retailers specified arsenic supermarket chains offering promotions connected cut-price laptops from well-known brands – often described arsenic inventory clearance. The ads nonstop funny buyers done to fake registration websites which bargain idiosyncratic details and outgo paper information.
Clothing – 19 per cent
Fraudsters acceptable up fake online stores oregon usage societal media to merchantability branded oregon decorator covering astatine debased prices. Victims whitethorn person counterfeit items, low-quality knockoffs, oregon thing astatine all. The websites often vanish aft a abbreviated period.
Home tech appliances (e.g. vacuum cleaners, microwaves) – 15 per cent
Scammers tricking consumers into buying non-existent, counterfeit, oregon inferior location exertion products done fake websites, misleading ads, oregon phishing schemes, often resulting successful fiscal nonaccomplishment and undelivered goods.
Jewellery – 12 per cent
Scammers merchantability counterfeit oregon misrepresented jewellery arsenic genuine items, often astatine inflated prices. They mightiness usage convincing photos, mendacious certifications, oregon claims of authenticity to lure buyers. Once the acquisition is made, the purchaser receives jewellery of inferior prime oregon thing astatine all.
Video games – 11 per cent
Fraudsters instrumentality vantage of the popularity of video games, particularly recently released oregon highly sought-after titles. They whitethorn connection these games astatine discounted prices oregon assertion to person uncommon editions. Victims whitethorn person counterfeit copies, antithetic games, oregon thing astatine all.
Cars and different vehicles (e.g. campervans) – 11 per cent
These scams impact fraudulent sellers posing arsenic morganatic dealers oregon backstage sellers, offering vehicles astatine prices that look excessively bully to beryllium true. Scammers whitethorn usage fake listings, doctored conveyance past reports, oregon unit tactics to get the purchaser to wage upfront deposits oregon afloat payments without ever delivering the car.
Watches – 10 per cent
Scammers advertise luxury oregon branded watches astatine important discounts. Once the unfortunate pays, they whitethorn person a counterfeit watch, a antithetic item, oregon thing astatine all. These scams often people buyers done online marketplaces oregon fake websites.
Luxury handbags – 9 per cent
These scams people buyers looking for decorator handbags, often astatine a discounted rate. Scammers whitethorn usage fake websites, societal media ads, oregon online marketplaces to merchantability counterfeit bags arsenic authentic ones. Buyers whitethorn extremity up with a fake merchandise or, successful immoderate cases, nary merchandise astatine each aft making a payment.
Trainers and shoes – 9 per cent
Fraudsters connection fashionable oregon limited-edition trainers and shoes astatine discounted prices. The purchaser either receives counterfeit products that are of mediocre quality, a antithetic merchandise altogether, oregon nothing. These scams are prevalent connected fake websites oregon done societal media ads.