Four in 10 Brits receive more scam approaches during November and December

Four in 10 Brits receive more scam approaches during November and December.

A poll of 2,000 adults found 31 per cent are anxious they’ll fall victim to a scam when doing their present buying.

A record £85.9 million was stolen by criminals in 156,516 purchase scams last year, according to UK Finance.

And 92 per cent of these originated online, which is a 34 per cent increase compared to 2022.

The poll was commissioned by NatWest as part of its ‘Scamvent Calendar’ [natwest.com/calendar] launch – which is a unique twist on an advent calendar which is available in selected branches from the end of November, to highlight the 12 most common purchases at risk.

Stuart Skinner, NatWest’s fraud expert, said: “We all know that now is the time of year when a lot of us will be shopping; either for a Black Friday deal or getting ahead of our Christmas shopping list.

“We want the UK public to feel confident in taking action today to keep their money safe, so we’re reminding everyone to watch out for purchase scams.

“You have to be careful when buying online because you can’t always be sure what you’re getting. Take a few minutes to go through our top tips or visit our Security Centre for more shopping guides.

“That could make all the difference between having a happy and safe experience, or you or your loved ones going through the heartache of losing money to criminals this season. ”

The research went on to find 25 per cent have encountered an advert they believe to be a scam or a fake website or digital marketplace listing, while shopping for presents during the holiday season.

And nearly half (46 per cent) revealed they are more vigilant about scams during the festive shopping period.

Hannah Byczkowski and Wilf Webster, familiar faces from series one of “The Traitors”, have teamed up with NatWest to launch a new scam awareness video.

Drawing on their own experiences of navigating deception and trust on the show, Hannah and Wilf have flipped the script and are now helping to educate the public about the dangers of fraudulent online purchases, especially during the holiday season.

Hannah explains in the video: “Every calendar comes with expert tips to help you spot and avoid popular festive scams. So, don’t let scammers take a bite out of finances this festive season.”

Wilf added: “From fake gig tickets, too-good-to-be-true tech deals, and even cute pet ads – scammers use tonnes of tricks to try and steal your cash.”

THE 12 PURCHASES MOST AT RISK OF BEING A SCAM:

1. Phones – 26 per cent
Scammers advertise high-demand smartphones at attractive prices. Once the victim pays, they may receive a counterfeit or stolen phone, a completely different item, or nothing at all. These scams often occur on online marketplaces or through social media ads.

2. Tickets (e.g. concert, theatre, gig tickets) – 23 per cent
Fraudsters sell fake or non-existent tickets to events such as concerts, sports games, or theatre shows. Victims either receive counterfeit tickets that are not accepted at the venue or no tickets at all, despite making a payment.

3. Online vouchers or gift cards – 23 per cent
Fraudsters sell fake or invalid gift vouchers at attractive prices. Victims purchase these vouchers only to find that they cannot be redeemed. These scams often happen through fake websites, social media ads, or email offers.

4. Laptops and tablets – 21 per cent
Adverts, often on social media, which appear to be from trusted retailers such as supermarket chains offering promotions on cut-price laptops from well-known brands – often described as inventory clearance. The ads direct interested buyers through to fake registration websites which steal personal details and payment card information.

5. Clothing – 19 per cent
Fraudsters set up fake online stores or use social media to sell branded or designer clothing at low prices. Victims may receive counterfeit items, low-quality knockoffs, or nothing at all. The websites often disappear after a short period.

6. Home tech appliances (e.g. vacuum cleaners, microwaves) – 15 per cent
Scammers tricking consumers into buying non-existent, counterfeit, or inferior home technology products through fake websites, misleading ads, or phishing schemes, often resulting in financial loss and undelivered goods.

7. Jewellery – 12 per cent
Scammers sell counterfeit or misrepresented jewellery as genuine items, often at inflated prices. They might use convincing photos, false certifications, or claims of authenticity to lure buyers. Once the purchase is made, the buyer receives jewellery of inferior quality or nothing at all.

8. Video games – 11 per cent
Fraudsters take advantage of the popularity of video games, especially newly released or highly sought-after titles. They may offer these games at discounted prices or claim to have rare editions. Victims may receive counterfeit copies, different games, or nothing at all.

9. Cars and other vehicles (e.g. campervans) – 11 per cent
These scams involve fraudulent sellers posing as legitimate dealers or private sellers, offering vehicles at prices that seem too good to be true. Scammers may use fake listings, doctored vehicle history reports, or pressure tactics to get the buyer to pay upfront deposits or full payments without ever delivering the car.

10. Watches – 10 per cent
Scammers advertise luxury or branded watches at significant discounts. Once the victim pays, they may receive a counterfeit watch, a different item, or nothing at all. These scams often target buyers through online marketplaces or fake websites.

11. Luxury handbags – 9 per cent
These scams target buyers looking for designer handbags, often at a discounted rate. Scammers may use fake websites, social media ads, or online marketplaces to sell counterfeit bags as authentic ones. Buyers may end up with a fake product or, in some cases, no product at all after making a payment.

12. Trainers and shoes – 9 per cent
Fraudsters offer popular or limited-edition trainers and shoes at discounted prices. The buyer either receives counterfeit products that are of poor quality, a different product altogether, or nothing. These scams are prevalent on fake websites or through social media ads.