People across Bucks, Beds, and Herts urged to be vigilant during Black Friday
Last year Black Friday scams soared by nearly 30 percent.
People across Bucks, Beds, and Herts are being urged to be vigilant this Black Friday as last year scams rose by 29 percent.
Victims lose £500 on average
It's been revealed that over a quarter of people in the East of England say that they would happily take risks while shopping online if they are running low on time.
The overall rate of purchase scams is up by 14% already this year, with victims losing more than £500 on average.
Though despite the risk of purchase scams, the majority of people (57%) think a bank transfer is a safe payment method when shopping online.
What is a purchase scam?
Purchase scams occur when someone is tricked into sending money directly to someone else's account via bank transfer to buy goods or services - often advertised online or via social media - that don't exist.
There is a huge concern for consumers as more than half of UK adults say the rise in the cost of living makes them more keen to seek a bargain, while two in five say they would shop from anywhere that claims to have the product they are looking for.
Black Friday: "It's also a great opportunity for people to be scammed"
Cllr Mark Winn deals with regulatory services at Buckinghamshire Council. He says this time of year is particularly dangerous: "With the cost of living crisis, we're all tightening our belts and looking for a bargain. This is especially the case in the run up to Christmas, which is usually one of the most expensive times of the year.
"Black Friday can offer a great opportunity to grab a bargain, unfortunately it's also a great opportunity for people to be scammed."
Ways to spot a scam
According to Mark, there are certain ways to tell if something is a scam: "You're either offered a heavily discounted or considerably cheaper than usual service or produce, you may be asked to pay by bank transfer, you could receive a fake email receipt, and the website could've been launched only a few days or weeks ago."
He's encouraging people across the three counties to be diligent before making any purchases and watch out for social media: "Almost half of the scams reported to Action Fraud mention one social media platform."
Other types of scams
He also stressed there are other areas where people can be scammed including: "holiday, travel, and gig tickets. Obviously these make great presents for our loved ones but that's why fraudsters love them too. So only buy from well known agents and not via unsolicited email links or on social media.
"There's also the too good to be true gadgets that say they save you money. One of the topical ones at the moment is one that saves you money on your fuel bills."
If you're in need of help contact Citizens Advice.