listen up! There’s a big warning out there about Black Friday scams, and you definitely don’t want to get caught up in it. With Christmas around the corner, we all want to snag some great deals for our kids, but the online world is full of sneaky scams. Can you believe that people have lost a whopping £41 million to these con artists in just the first half of 2023? That’s a crazy amount of money! According to UK Finance, more than a quarter of parents have been tricked into paying for stuff that never shows up. These scammers love to advertise cool gadgets like phones and computers at super low prices, and then they vanish into thin air once they get your money. They do this through fake websites, dodgy social media ads, and even auction sites. Ben Donaldson, the big boss of economic crime at UK Finance, says that these crooks are using fake ads and websites more than ever to target their victims. It’s not just about the money, though. The emotional and psychological damage caused by these scams is no joke. So, when you’re hunting for gifts this Black Friday, be extra careful online. Check out the sellers properly before you buy, and remember the Take Five to Stop Fraud advice: stop, challenge, protect. Black Friday is on November 24 this year, and it’s important to know that only a quarter of parents always research sellers before buying. UK Finance’s report also revealed that purchase scams make up most of the fraud cases, and the number of these cases has shot up by 43% in the first half of 2023. The amount stolen from victims has also increased by 31% to a staggering £40.9 million. And get this, a whopping 77% of these scams start on online platforms. So, be on the lookout and stay safe out there!
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