VICKY SHAW

With the pressure to spend, spend, spend, it’s all too easy to get stung at this time of year. outlines some of the common traps and how not to fall for them

AS the last minute rush for buying Christmas presents begins, make sure you don’t end up buying now and regretting later. Here are six Christmas shopping pitfalls we should all try to avoid...

ONLINE FRAUD

MORE than 15,000 shoppers across the UK were conned out of more than £11 million over the Christmas period last year, according to figures from Action Fraud and City of London Police.

As people search for bargains and gifts for loved ones, fraudsters see this as an opportunity to trick people with the promise of great deals and big cash savings. Victims may find themselves defrauded on popular social media and online auction websites.

Mobile phones are a common item fraudsters use to hook victims in – with ‘bargain’ deals on some of the most popular models of smartphones, only for the phone to never actually arrive – leaving victims without gifts to give on Christmas Day. Games consoles, computers and household items have also featured in many reports.

Last year, more than 30% of reports were made by women aged between 20 and 29 – but anyone can fall victim to Christmas shopping fraudsters.

Remember, if something seems too much of a bargain, it’s probably poor quality, fake or doesn’t exist.

Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online, says: “Really simple steps, such a paying via a credit card over a bank transfer or only using reputable shopping sites, can make a big difference towards protecting yourself online this Christmas.”

BUYING GOODS WHICH TURN OUT TO BE DANGEROUS

THE charity Electrical Safety First warns that fake electrical items can be virtually impossible to spot, with online shoppers misled by imagery taken from official product websites, fake official safety marks, glowing reviews and believable pricing.

They’re often retailing for just a few pounds below recommended retail value to avoid arousing suspicion – and at a time of year when genuine products are sold at bargain prices, it’s even harder to tell the difference.

The charity says people should look for the seller’s contact details – and if they are not supplied in full, shoppers should be wary. Many fake electrical goods are manufactured overseas, where they are produced as quickly and cheaply as possible. Look out for packaging which could provide tell-tale signs that goods are fake – if there are spelling mistakes or it’s flimsy quality, or if the It’s easy to get carried away with spending or, worse, not spot the cons in search of a bargain

printing is poor. Also, fake products may not include supplementary materials, such as a manual or a product registration card or even all the parts. If you suspect you have purchased a fake, stop using it immediately as it could be dangerous. For more advice, visit electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/ spotthefake.

BEING TOO INFLUENCED BY ‘INFLUENCERS’

director at Barclays, suggests asking yourself: “Can I afford this right now?” Or, “Are there other items that I need more?” And if all else fails, consider turning social media notifications off for a while.

THINKING YOU ALWAYS NEED TO BUY NEW