Black Friday is upon us, and that means shoppers flock to splash the cash to bag that one-day-only deal.
However, some discounts are not all as they seem – and with thousands of shoppers preferring to shop online, it is the perfect opportunity for scammers to make some money.
Black Friday encourages millions of shoppers to spend thousands of pounds while they stock up on Christmas presents, and gifts and finally treat themselves to that luxury item they have been eyeing up all year. But, unfortunately, scammers know that shoppers are eager to spend their hard-earned cash and can take advantage of this.
Criminals can use the event to their advantage as consumers receive an influx of emails, marketing campaigns and adverts in their inboxes and on their social media accounts. With Christmas ahead of us, and the cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone’s bank accounts, this could be the perfect time for fraudsters to prey on their victims.
Ben Donaldson, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said:
“More and more criminals are using fake ads and websites to target their victims.
“And particularly at this time of year, too many parents who are trying to bring joy to their children are falling victim to these ruthless crimes.
“The consequences go beyond financial because the deception involved can cause real emotional and psychological damage. So, this Black Friday, when you’re searching for gifts for your children and loved ones, take extra care online.
“Check sellers thoroughly before buying and make sure you follow the Take Five to Stop Fraud advice – stop, challenge, protect.”
UK Finance’s recent fraud report found that purchase scams are the most common kind of fraud, accounting for two-thirds of cases. The volume of purchase scam cases has grown by 43 per cent, from 53,907 in the first half of 2022, to 76,946 in the first half of 2023 – amounting to £40.9 million.
According to statistics, Brits are predicted to spend a total of £ 3 billion in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year. We have rounded up some of the scams you should look out for before you part with your hard-earned cash.
E-mail scams
Black Friday is a time when almost every brand, website or business will send you an e-mail relating to deals. But the influx of adverts can be confusing and overwhelming, and scammers know this.
A common scam can involve sending the consumer a link via e-mail to a fake website to buy an item. However, the consumer might spend the money but never receive the item, or the scammer might take more money from the consumer than expected – depending on the method of payment.
To avoid these scams, ensure you are only buying from credible websites. Browse the website you have been taken to via the link, visit the homepage and ‘about us’ page in particular.
Look out for poor grammar, spelling mistakes and phrases that don’t sound quite right. Legitimate companies will always list ways to get in touch with them; if the website doesn’t have a ‘contact us’ page, it could well be fraudulent.
Is the offer too good to be true?
If the offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Even with Black Friday sales, extremely low prices or discounts should be treated as suspicious. Scam websites use very low prices to lure bargain hunters for a quick sale.
With the added one-day-only pressure of Black Friday sales and lower prices across the board, it can confuse consumers. If you see a deal that seems too-good-to-be-true, make sure you do all the checks to ensure the website is legit.
Check the website
If you have landed on a website, whether that is through an e-mail marketing ad, through social media or online, before you spend any money, browse the website thoroughly. Take a few minutes to look over the website, check the URL in the search bar, check the different pages and check the branding.
Fraudsters can mimic a reputable brand’s website, and trick the consumer into spending money.. Check for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. If you are concerned, search for the website in a separate browser, and see if you can find the same deal, and if the website looks the same.
Never bank transfer
If you are asked to pay online via bank transfer, it could be a cause for concern. If you end up buying something that turns out to be fake or non-existent with a credit or debit card, you have some rights to get your money back. But if you pay by bank transfer, it can be tougher to get the money back.
Search engine scams
Just because the deal has been advertised on a search engine, and appeared on your search results, it doesn’t mean they’re legitimate. Anyone can pay to advertise products on search engine results.
If you use a search engine like Google, Bing or Yahoo, a list of results will appear relating to your search. However, some of the results will be paid-for adverts – usually advertised by legitimate brands and companies. However, it is another way fraudsters can attract victims if they are successful in getting an ad approved.
If you’re using Google, the ads usually appear at the very top of the search results list and are labelled with ‘Ad.’ You might also see ‘shopping’ results, which show products being offered by retailers at competitive prices.
These are also paid for advertising. If you are clicking through from a search engine ad, make sure you follow the website checks to ensure you are buying from a credible company.
Social media
Fraudsters can post what looks like legitimate adverts and deals on social media, but really they are a way to make money illegally. Scammers create social media accounts and pay to have their adverts appear on your timeline.
The ads are designed to exploit the credibility of social media adverts, so make sure you stay vigilant when you see new brands or companies on your feed. Also, if you follow a link from a social media advert, make sure you do all the website checks before paying out any money.
What to do if you are scammed
If you realise you have bought something from a scammer, you might be able to get it back depending on the method of payment:
- Bank transfer or direct debit
If you have paid through a bank transfer or direct debit you should contact your back immediately. Most banks should reimburse the payment and if you have paid through direct debit, you should be able to get a refund under the Direct Debit Guarantee.
If you have used a money transfer service such as MoneyGram, PayPoint or Western, it is unlikely you will be able to get your money back. However, you can still report the scam, and get financial and emotional support.
If you have paid for the item or service through vouchers or gift cards, it is unlikely you will get your money back. To protect yourself in future, never give numbers on the back of a gift card or voucher
Reporting a scam
If you have been a victim of a scam, you should report it. There are a number of organisations you can report it to including the following:
If your money has been stolen as a result of a scam contact the police on the non-emergency number – 101.
Report online: either sign up for an account or continue as a ‘guest’ or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk. It will go to the National Cyber Security Centre. They might be able to stop other people being scammed.
If you’ve seen a scam advert online
You should report an online scam advert to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
You might also be able to report an advert when you see it. For example, Google, Facebook and Instagram let you tell them about scam ads. If you’ve done this, you can still then report them to the ASA.
If a scammer is imitating a company or person
Contact the real company or person to let them know their name is being falsely used.
A common imitation scam involves emails, texts or calls that seem to be from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). They might tell you about a tax rebate or ask for your personal information. Report HMRC scams.
Further reading
Bank fraud and scam claims – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
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Danielle Lightfoot is a Director and our Head of the Financial Litigation Department. Danielle joined the firm as a Paralegal in 2011 and qualified as a solicitor in October 2014. She has acquired ext…
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