Protect yourself from Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams

Derbyshire Community Bank are warning people to be alert to online shopping scams, as more customers are expected to turn to the internet for Black Friday bargains and Christmas gifts due to the convenience & jaw dropping prices.

As one of the UK’s busiest shopping and bargain hunting period approaches, everyone will be looking for those last minute deals.

Scams are not just on the high street, you will find scams involve home improvement and DIY purchases too online. Social media platforms, online market places such as eBay, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, Auction websites are increasingly being used by criminals to carry out these purchase scams, where a customer pays in advance for goods or services that are never received.

For all scammers out there, Christmas is the perfect cover which means the public have to be extra careful. With scams such as easy links to websites to make the consumer think it’s a real deal & at a very cheap price.

Remember, however good the deal, if you really don’t need it, it is not a bargain. We would also warn people to be very careful when using ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ schemes which can be very tempting, but it is very easy to get over-committed and have a debt hangover to deal with in the new year.”

How to avoid scams & fake Black Friday deals

• Take control of your finances & become more organised (for some advice & tips on savings money around the festive period, take a look at our Christmas Tips Newsletter

• Check the price of the product across multiple websites & check the price history

• Look out for the Padlock 🔒 icon next to the URL on websites. when you see the lock icon, you can be sure that your connection to the website is secure. it still doesn’t mean that the website is reputable or legitimate but it does mean the connection is.

• Check URL’S, Emails, Numbers
• Choose the right payment method, The safest way to shop online or even in store is by using a credit card. This is because, unlike debit cards, they are protected by Section 75 of consumer credit law.
• Be careful about sharing your personal information
• Pause and take a breath – Whilst it’s easy to get caught up in the madness of Black Friday, it’s important to pause, think, and question whether the deal is too good to be true.
• Get a second opinion – Finally, if you are ever unsure, you should speak to someone you trust for a second opinion just in case it is a scam.
• Check legitimate Customer Reviews 
• Be cautious of social media advertisements and “stores ” & duplicated company profiles.

What do I do if I’ve been scammed?⚠️

Unfortunately these things happen to all of us. These scammers are good at what they do. Getting scammed can be stressful, but you might be able to get your money back. If there’s a payment coming out of your bank account that you don’t recognise, contact your bank immediately!