Whether you detest it or revel in it, the festive shopping season is here.
You could be shopping for loved ones or just for yourself, but you still need to be careful as it's also a great time for scammers to rake in the dough.
New research from Voucherbox.co.uk found that of the £21.6 billion spent over the Christmas shopping period last year, an incredible £12.4 million was scammed from shoppers.
Here are some of the worst Christmas scams to look out for.
Fake versions of websites
Have you ever visited a retailer's website and felt that something isn't quite right? You could be looking at a fake. Dodgy retailer websites use replicated logos and photos which display flashy tech items like smartphones and games consoles to entice you to fork out for rubbish imitations or products that don't actually exist.
The technology that scammers use has become so sophisticated that the imposter sites can look worryingly like the original.
Fake listings on real websites like eBay are also rife at this time of year. Be particularly vigilant on busy shopping days, as these are when scammers are most likely to catch you out.
Supermarket voucher scams
You may have already seen ‘free’ £500 vouchers for the likes of Asda, Tesco and John Lewis popping up on your social media feeds or email inbox.
You just need to click through to a website and answer a few questions to get your hands on the freebie. What you don't realise though is that you'll actually be charged for each question that you answer! This scam has led to massive fines for the firms behind them, yet they keep popping up, year after year.
Find out more at Don’t fall for this supermarket voucher scam.
Secret Sister Gift Exchange
This one is spreading like wildfire across social networks. It's essentially a pyramid scheme. The claim is that if you buy a gift and add your name to a list, then you will receive a whopping 36 gifts.
These are the instructions that you'll be sent as part of the scheme:
Photo credit: Facebook
It’s had quite a bit of traction in the States but it has made its way to the UK through Facebook and Twitter.
There are lots of problems with this one. For starters, as with any pyramid scheme, the claim that all participants will win as a result is a nonsense. And then there's the fact that advertising a scheme like this breaks Facebook rules.
On top of that there's the risk of identity theft, with your personal details being shared with all and sundry. Don't get sucked in by the promise of 'free' gifts!
Beware the exploding hoverboards
Hoverboards are tipped to be at the top of many a Christmas wish list this year, especially for young people.
However, there is a problem - there have been a number of cases of hoverboards exploding while on charge, starting significant fires. According to Electrical Safety First, some hoverboards have come supplied with plugs that aren't designed for use in Britain. They don't have fuses, so are at risk of overheating and then exploding.
If you are planning on picking one up for a loved one this Christmas, make sure you check the plug. The plug shown below is from a potentially dangerous hoverboard bought online. You're best off sticking with a reputable retailer, rather than taking a punt on a cheaper version that you've spotted on an auction site or a website that you've never heard of.
Photo credit: Kent County Council
Loan scams
The festive period is an expensive time, so many people turn to loans to help cover the cost. However, according to Action Fraud, scammers try to exploit this by intercepting applications to legitimate lenders, or by setting up their own bogus company websites.
[SPOTLIGHT]Bear in mind that a genuine loan firm will never ask for an advance fee before approving your credit. If they try it, just say no. Be sure to research any loan firm thoroughly before making any financial commitment, and read the terms and conditions.
Christmas e-cards
E-cards are great at Christmas time: they save you a bundle of cash and a lot of unnecessary waste. However, cyber criminals are spoiling it for everyone by making their own. The email you get might contain malware that will embed itself in your device without your knowledge and collect personal data, financial information, passwords and usernames which can be used to commit fraud.
If your e-card is from someone you don't know, it's best to delete it.
Fake tickets
Be careful when you buy event tickets this season, because some of the sites offering amazing deals are not what they seem. You should only buy tickets from legitimate sites like Ticketmaster and ATG and read reviews of the event online to see if anyone else has fallen victim to a scam when buying their ticket.
Double-check to make sure the event you want to go to hasn't sold out before you make any payments. Advertising tickets to sold out events is a common trick among scammers.
Top tips for online shoppers
If you are spending more than £100, always use a credit card. You get additional protection that means if something goes wrong with your purchase, your card provider is equally liable with the retailer and so you should be able to get your money back.
When the time comes to pay for your purchases online, check that URL. It should lead with ‘https’ rather than ‘http’: this means that it’s a secure payment page.
As for the website itself, be on the lookout for poor spelling and grammar which could be a sign of a fake website built in a rush. If you’re in any doubt, type the retailer’s name into a search engine - its genuine web address should be at the top of the search results. It'll have a little logo next to the URL as well, known as a favicon.
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