Stay Merry, Stay Sharp: Beat the Holiday Scams!

Christmas is just around the corner. But, while we shop for our loved ones, how can we be sure that what aren’t being scammed?

As shoppers, it's fair to say cases of fraud are always expected to rise during the build-up to Christmas.

In 2021 for example, more than half of the population* was targeted by scammers, from counterfeit online deals, to bank transfer requests, fake delivery drivers and more.

With unable to recognise a scam and even more worried about being a victim to theft this Christmas, we want to make sure everyone shops safely this Christmas.

Therefore, we have put together some pointers on how to spot a fake below:

Fake staff

Reports of fake delivery drivers and police storming houses and stealing parcels started to rise during lockdown a few years ago and remain rife.

The same advice remains as it did back then: to be vigilant, you should ensure that your front door has a chain so there isn’t easy access, and - if you are able - you could invest in a video doorbell to pre-empt a fraudster.

Check in with any family members to see if they are expecting a delivery and if not, open a window or speak through the video doorbell for any communications.

Do not open the door if you are in any doubt, or if their uniform doesn’t look legitimate to what you’re used to.

Fake online deals

Shopping events such as Black Friday, Boxing Day and the January sales attract millions of shoppers to take advantage of Christmas bargains.

However, being aware of fake deals and e-commerce sites is vital, as scammers use illegitimate sites to make money.

Use review sites such as Trust Pilot as others will have shared their problems with receiving goods, plus it will highlight the verdict of any unknown stores.

Fake Email requests

If we go back to the first half of 2021 for an example, £355 million* was lost to push-payments - and people need to be even more cautious of this at Christmas.

If a text or email is unprompted or unrelated to any of your recent activities, avoid it. When it comes to email you should double check the email address and, if it isn’t from your bank or an official party such as Royal Mail, delete it or double check with your bank.

Alternatively, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to report it.

Scammer calls

Scammer calls are rife in today's world - with on average three out of five 75-year-olds and over being victimised.

You should report any scam calls to Action Fraud immediately and contact your bank if you’re suspicious of a payment.

If you’re on the phone to a suspected scammer, you should ask for full details of the person calling.

If you ask to speak to their manager for confirmation or bury deeper into why they are calling you, they will soon give up on the situation if they know you’re being savvy.

Fake products

When buying gifts for friends and family this Christmas, ensure the goods aren’t counterfeit if buying second-hand, or from an unfamiliar store.

If the product doesn’t look like what you’re used to, check the dimensions and sizes to see if they match the original.

If there is a significant difference in price or if the design specs aren’t the same as the product you’re looking for, you should shop elsewhere.