CONSUMER CHAMPION Don’t give scammers an early Christmas present
FOR SCAMMERS, Christmas is like, well, Christmas come early! There is a significantly higher risk of falling victim to online fraud during the Black Friday sales and into the festive shopping period, simply because as a nation we do so much of our buying online. And don’t make the mistake of thinking this is someone else’s problem. No matter how savvy you are, the truth is anyone can fall victim to a scam:
FAKE WEBSITE Gina, from Ipswich, Suffolk, needed a new laptop so planned to grab a Black Friday bargain. She started searching the web and came across a site with lots of great deals. She made her choice and was so impressed, she decided to go online and write a review.
Unfortunately, she then found feedback from other consumers branding the site a
“scam”. I’ve advised
Gina to contact her card provider and make a chargeback claim. If it’s an unfamiliar site, check for reviews and feedback first.
CREDIT CARD APPLICATION
After falling victim to fraud, John, of Southend, Essex, checks his credit file every month. Last month he found a credit card had been taken out in his name and £836 spent.After cancelling the card, I’ve told him to write to the three main credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) to ask that those transactions be removed from his history. So, check your credit file regularly.
FAKE GOODS
Tom, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, saw a Black Friday advert for huge discounts on designer clothes. He clicked on the link and chose two pairs of Diesel jeans.When they arrived he was horrified to find they were not “genuine” Diesel but imitations. Beware of fake goods through unverified sites.
FICTITIOUS VOUCHER CODES
Jenny, in Canterbury, Kent, received an email advertising “Black Friday Voucher Codes – up to 70% off”. It directed her to a link where she had to fill out her details to claim the vouchers. Luckily, she got suspicious so contacted me. I discovered it was a scam site designed to steal personal information.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING CLUB
Wendy, from Manchester, joined a Christmas shopping club in January, paying in £35 a month. She has now discovered it’s a scam. She paid by bank transfer so I have advised her to claim under the Authorised Push Payment scam code – through which banks can reimburse customers who fall victim to tricksters and send money via a transfer. If you’re signing up for a deal like this, always do due diligence.Ask for recommendations from friends, check for complaints and beware of offers that sound too good to be true.