Protect yourself from common scams this holiday season

As the festive period approaches, excitement for seasonal shopping and gift-giving often coincides with a surge in fraudulent activity.

In this article, we highlight common scams to watch out for this holiday season –purchase scams, impersonation scams and delivery scams – and provide tips on how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Purchase scams

With Black Friday and the festive shopping rush around the corner, fraudsters create convincing fake shops or listings with offers that appear too good to be true. Criminals may:

• Create fake retail websites or clone legitimate ones
• List non-existent products on online marketplaces
• Post fraudulent advertisements on social media
• Send fake invoices and receipts to appear genuine.

These scams often result in victims paying for items that never arrive, with the scammers disappearing once the money has been transferred.

How to protect yourself:

• Be cautious of deals or discounts that seem unusually generous
• Always access a retailer’s website by typing the address directly into your browser – avoid clicking on links in emails or social media posts
• Research sellers and read independent reviews before making a purchase
• Avoid paying by bank transfer – this is a common red flag in scams.

Impersonation scams

Impersonation scams occur when criminals pose as trusted organisations or people you know to trick you into sharing sensitive information or making payments. They may claim to be from your bank, HMRC, the police – or even a friend or family member.

Fraudsters use increasingly convincing tactics, such as ‘spoofing’ phone numbers or email addresses to make communications appear genuine. They may also claim your money is at risk and ask you to move it to a ‘safe account’.

How to protect yourself:

• If contacted by someone claiming to be from a trusted organisation, check their details carefully
• Avoid clicking on links in emails or texts from unfamiliar sources – instead, visit the organisation’s website directly or call them using a number you know is genuine
• If a friend or relative contacts you urgently asking for money, confirm it’s it is really them by speaking directly, ideally in person or on a separate call
• Only share personal or financial information with services you have verified and are expecting to hear from.

Delivery scams

During the holiday season, many of us are waiting for parcels to arrive – making delivery scams particularly effective. Criminals often impersonate legitimate courier companies, sending messages that claim a delivery has been missed or requires a small fee to rearrange. These messages often contain links to fake websites designed to steal your personal or financial information. Some may even install malware on your device.

How to protect yourself:

• Check any delivery notifications carefully and be cautious of unexpected messages
• Access delivery company websites directly by typing the web address into your browser rather than clicking on links
• Keep track of your online orders through official retailer or courier websites.

Your financial wellbeing is our priority

Please continue to stay informed and cautious to protect yourself from fraud. 

If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, please contact us immediately on  020 7012 2500 (available 24 hours).

Together, we can safeguard your wealth and peace of mind.