Dear Resident, 

Everybody loves a good deal, especially at this time of year when funds can be a little tight. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of this, especially on Black Friday and indiscriminately target shoppers.....Remember, IF IT FEELS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT USUALLY IS, DO NOT CLICK ON A LINK UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE. 

1. Incorrect bank details swindle

This growing scam involves fraudsters emailing shoppers to say that there has been a problem with their transaction that needs correcting immediately.

The email will purport to be from a retailer that you may have recently bought from, telling you that some of the billing information you provided is incorrect. 

The scammer hopes that you will click on a link in the email to enter your bank details and other personal information. Once they have this, they may use it to carry out fraudulent transactions in your name.

Or they may contact you later claiming to be from the police, your bank or another trusted authority and use the information that you have handed over to convince you that they are genuine.

This type of scam will be particularly successful during Black Friday due to the sheer quantity of shoppers making purchases. 

That is because scammers tend to send the same bogus email to tens of thousands of potential victims claiming to be from a large retailer.

If you have not bought from that retailer recently, there is a good chance you will ignore the email.

But if you have, it could strike a chord and you’re more likely to fall prey.

If a retailer asks you to change your bank details with urgency and claims there is a risk of losing out on an order you have made, then you should be suspicious.

2. Fake goods and purchase con

A purchase scam is where you make a payment for goods or services that are fake or never turn up. 

Shoppers are particularly at risk of falling victim to purchase scams during Black Friday as they are in the mindset of hunting down bargains and getting good deals on Christmas presents for loved ones.

More than one in four parents have been tricked by purchase scams in the past according to trade body UK Finance. 

They are particularly likely to be susceptible, as fraudsters often take advantage of the fact that lots of parents will be trying to track down a popular present for their children.

Fake goods are most commonly advertised on Instagram or Facebook Marketplace.

Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.

Check customer reviews of the seller to make sure they have a good track record.

3. Tracking number trick

In this type of scam, a fraudster will send fake text messages or emails containing links, pretending to be from a retailer or courier with fake parcel tracking information.

Scammers take advantage of the fact that shoppers are likely to have lots of parcels arriving at this time of year.

If you click the link or open the attachment, crooks can then infect your device with malware or direct you to fake websites where they will trick you into handing over your personal details.

Stop and think before you click on any links contained in an email.

4. Brute force computer attacks

Retailers will see surges in ‘brute force attacks’ this year, according to LexisNexis Risk Solutions. 

This is where fraudsters attempt to break into customer accounts by using technology that can attempt to guess their password and log in details millions of times a second.

If a company with which you have an account contacts you to say your password has been changed, tell the firm immediately if it wasn’t you.

If you have a debit or credit card linked to that account, you may want to ask your bank to put a temporary freeze on it to prevent any unauthorised payments.

5. Bogus discount codes and offers

During Black Friday, consumers are bombarded with messages from retailers promising deals.

Scammers often replicate these messages from big-brand names. They send emails or text messages including fake discount codes or links to counterfeit websites.

If you want to take advantage of a Black Friday deal and are not sure if an offer you have seen is genuine, go directly to the retailer’s website.

Stay safe!

Kind regards

Crime Prevention Team