Derbyshire Community Bank are warning people to be alert to online shopping scams, as more customers are expected to turn to the internet for Black Friday bargains and Christmas gifts due to the convenience & jaw dropping prices.
As one of the UK’s busiest shopping and bargain hunting period approaches, everyone will be looking for those last minute deals.
Scams are not just on the high street, you will find scams involve home improvement and DIY purchases too online. Social media platforms, online market places such as eBay, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, Auction websites are increasingly being used by criminals to carry out these purchase scams, where a customer pays in advance for goods or services that are never received.
For all scammers out there, Christmas is the perfect cover which means the public have to be extra careful. With scams such as easy links to websites to make the consumer think it’s a real deal & at a very cheap price.
Remember, however good the deal, if you really don’t need it, it is not a bargain. We would also warn people to be very careful when using ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ schemes which can be very tempting, but it is very easy to get over-committed and have a debt hangover to deal with in the new year.”
Check the price of the product across multiple websites & check the price history
Look out for the Padlock 🔒 icon next to the URL on websites. when you see the lock icon, you can be sure that your connection to the website is secure. it still doesn’t mean that the website is reputable or legitimate but it does mean the connection is.
Unfortunately these things happen to all of us. These scammers are good at what they do. Getting scammed can be stressful, but you might be able to get your money back. If there’s a payment coming out of your bank account that you don’t recognise, contact your bank immediately!
