Warning to Black Friday shoppers over fraudsters trying to steal data

As the Black Friday shopping spree begins this week, with some of the biggest retailer's sale deals already live, shoppers are being urged to be extra cautious about fraud, with data showing a 25% spike in sales at the start of Black Friday week (Monday 25th November), compared to a typical Monday, shoppers are gearing up for what is expected to be another busy week of online shopping.

But as discounts flood the market, fraudsters are also on the hunt for opportunities to scam unsuspecting buyers.

Gary Murray is Crimestoppers Regional Manager for the North West. He told us: "They will prey on our vulnerabilities. They're constantly plotting ways to get people to part with their money and click on links that aren't genuine.

"They'll try and rush you into a purchase and try and get you to give out more details than a normal retailer would.

"Often scammers will create these contact forms and put in as many things as possible that they can get to sell that information on. Proper retailers will only ask for your card details, expiry date and those three digits.

2There are a lot of scams through email, through your facebook page. What they all are trying to do is rush you into a purchase, because if you rush a purchase the odds are that you will give out information that could well lead them to accessing your bank account."

Statistics show 'card not present fraud' - where criminals steal card details and make unauthorised transactions - tops the list of targeted fraud this year, with cases now accounting for a fifth (22%) of all fraud cases reported to Nationwide Building Society. Interestingly, those aged 25-44 are particularly vulnerable to card not present fraud.

Card not present fraud is closely followed by purchase scams (accounting for 20% of cases), and stolen card fraud at 14%.

Gary continued: "When you go into a shop you present your card, contactless or you put in your pin number. Card not present is when you give your card details either over the phone or you put it into a website, and they can sell those details or use those details themselves to get money off your card."

With half (50%) of consumers planning to shop online this Black Friday, almost a third (30%) are unsure if they have ever been scammed, and the majority (78%) admit to doing little to no research before purchasing online deals.

Customers are predicted to spend 12% more on Black Friday - more than £336 million (£233,333 per minute) versus £300 million in 2023 (£208,333 per minute).

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