Black Friday scams will look to take advantage of bargain-hunters as the cost of living crisis squeezes budgets more than this time last year.
Barclays research shows 89% of Brits are relying on Black Friday sales this year to get a lot of their Christmas shopping done, with 48% of them planning to shop online, leaving more of a chance of getting scammed.
Barclays also found:
- Scams on purchase websites, social media and dating apps have risen by 71% since the start of 2021
- 77% of all scams happen on tech platforms which has increased from 45% at the start of 2021
- 17% of people said they will shop on sites they have not heard of before if they are offering good deals
Ross Martin, Head of Digital Safety at Barclays said: “Whilst Black Friday is a great way for Brits to save money ahead of the Christmas season, it is important to stay vigilant when making purchases.
This year more than ever, people will be looking for the best bargains, which could lead them right into the hands of scammers, who will be advertising false offers to lure victims in.”
We tell you what the scams look like and what to do if you ever fall victim to a purchase scam.
What do Black Friday scams look like?
Black Friday scams are typically when fake or dodgy items that don’t exist are listed for sale and you’re tricked into buying them.
One that already took off is a Black Friday British Airways Whatsapp giveaway scam which has gone viral.
The message tells people they have a chance to win a British Airways giveaway by doing a small quiz and finding the golden ticket. The winner gets up to two round-trip tickets to Europe.
Here’s what it looks like:
Have you received a WhatsApp message, or seen social media post offering you the chance to win a holiday in the British Airways Black Friday giveaway? Please be vigilant before entering any competitions like this, as it was in fact a scam.Read more at: https://t.co/EKfy0nZGVt pic.twitter.com/bjMKPe2xSANovember 10, 2022
British Airways has replied to some tweets, verifying it’s a scam:
Hi there, this is a scam. It has been reported and our Security team are aware of it. Please do not respond. ChrisNovember 8, 2022
Barclays has also put together an example of an online sale scam which you can read through to familiarise yourself, so you know what to look out for if you suspect you are being scammed.
There are many other purchase scams you should look out for including scammers posing as retailers or delivery services.
“Just remember – ignore any pressure that is being put on you – and if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Ross Martin from Barclays adds.
What to do if you're scammed
If you ever fall victim to a scam, you can report it to Action Fraud or the police.
If you have lost money through your debit or credit card, you should contact your bank provider straight away.
If you are trying to claim any money back, there are steps you can take depending on if you were scammed by authorised push payment, debit card or credit card. Find out more on how to report scams and get your money back after being scammed.
Related articles
-
-
Octopus Energy relaunches energy tracker deal – we explain what you need to know and if it could save you money
If you’re an Octopus Energy customer, you may be able to save on your energy bills with the relaunch of its tracker deal. We look at how it works
-
Three energy firms pay £8m in switching compensation - has your provider paid out?
More than 100,000 customers have received compensation after changing providers, but is now a good time to switch energy suppliers?
-
Festival ticket scam warnings – how to protect yourself
Concert ticket scams have rocketed by more than 500% over the past year, while festival fraud has more than doubled. Here’s how to keep yourself safe ahead of the festival season.
-
Emergency alert test: what to expect and how to avoid being scammed
We tell you everything you need to know about the UK’s first emergency alert test, which takes place this Sunday
-
BT scams warning: Fake “your monthly BT bill is ready” emails are on the rise
Fake emails claiming to be from BT are attempting to capture your card details. Here are the common phishing tactics you need to watch out for.
-
Microsoft scam warning: fake Outlook ‘upgrade’ email
There is a Microsoft scam warning as a fake email instructing you to ‘reactivate’ your Outlook email account following an ‘upgrade’ is circulating. Here’s what it looks like.
-
Romance scams warnings: more than £88 million lost in last year - how to protect yourself
The average loss experienced by dating fraud victims has risen sharply. We explain how to protect yourself
-
Netflix scam email warning: fake ‘account suspended’ message
Netflix scam emails are attempting to steal your bank and card details by inviting you to ‘retry’ a ‘payment’. Here’s what you need to be aware of.
-
Currys scam warning: fake Currys Smeg kettle giveaway
Currys scam emails promising the chance to win a Smeg kettle by taking part in a ‘loyalty program’ are nothing to do with either brand. Here’s what they look like.
-
Disney+ scam emails: fake ‘technical incident’ warning
Disney+ scam emails claiming it has suffered a ‘technical incident’ on its servers are a ruse to obtain your bank details. Here’s what to watch out for
