Scots are losing almost £2,000 a day to cyber criminals through online scams as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, new figures reveal.
Advice Direct Scotland, which operates the national service consumeradvice.scot, is urging shoppers to stay vigilant as Christmas bargain hunting begins.
Between April and November this year, 934 Scots sought assistance from the charity after losing more than £495,111 to online fraud — an average loss of £530 per person.
This comes on top of losses exceeding £617,367 among 1,550 people in 2023, bringing the total to £1.1 million, or £1,972 per day.
The scale of the problem likely to be worse than indicated, as the figures do not account for unreported cases or those directly reported to the police.
Experts warn that fraudsters are increasingly using new tactics to target struggling
Scots seeking bargains amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Previously, one of the main signs of a digital scam was poor spelling or grammar.
But now, scammers can use AI platforms like ChatGPT, which employ natural language
processing to create human-like dialogue, making their messages more believable.
They can also use AI image generators to create fake celebrity endorsements that appear real.
Most retailers are already running a series of festive offers ahead of Black Friday, which this year falls on November 29.
Scammers exploit shoppers’ vulnerability and distraction, especially during timed Black Friday sales, pressuring victims into parting with money, bank details or personal information.
Consumers are being urged to be wary of fake deals presented through phishing emails, texts, and social media adverts.
Another tactic involves bogus websites impersonating legitimate ones, accepting payment but failing to deliver goods.
Criminals also employ methods such as selling counterfeit and empty gift cards and creating fake order confirmation pages.
Online shoppers are advised to research the online retailer before buying. Ensure that it is legitimate, with a secure website, a valid UK address, returns policy, and terms and conditions.
Shoppers should use a credit card if possible. It may be easier to get your money back if something goes wrong. If you don’t have a credit card, online services like PayPal can protect your bank details.
People should check the returns policy. Retailers have different policies on returning unwanted goods, but you have the right to return most goods purchased online within 14 days on receipt of delivery, for a full refund.
The overall message is to “be savvy. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.”
Scots are also being encouraged to avoid impulse buying and ensure they are getting value for money by comparing prices elsewhere.
Advice Direct Scotland is also highlighting new protections for those affected by Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, where criminals trick people into making bank transfers.
Under the new rules, banks must reimburse people unless they have been grossly negligent.
A reimbursement limit of £85,000 applies, but banks can choose to pay more. Some banks charge a £100 excess for these claims, meaning a loss of £1,000 could result in a refund of £900 after the excess is taken off.
These protections apply to transactions made from October 7 onwards and do not cover past transactions. Before this, there was a voluntary code, with some banks offering their own refund guarantees.
If a claim is rejected unfairly, it is possible to file a complaint, which can be taken to the Financial Ombudsman Service for an independent review.
Free, impartial and practical advice is available to anyone in Scotland through Advice Direct Scotland’s consumeradvice.scot service.
Black Friday warning as Scots lose £2,000 a day to online scams
19 November 2024
