The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Victoria Smith
Shoppers have been warned to watch out for scams when buying tickets, pets, vehicles and designer goods online in 2024.
Thousands of people hunting for tickets, cars, pets, and much more were tricked into handing money over to fraudsters this year, with purchase scams soaring 42 per cent compared to last year.
Social media was the main hunting ground for scammers – nearly four in five purchase scams started on these platforms.
Scam watch: Lloyds Bank has warned that shoppers need to be on their guard against scams including pets, tickets, vehicles and designer goods in 2024
With few checks, no secure payment processes and no financial incentives to protect their users, fraud is rife on social media platforms.
These are the biggest scams shoppers need to watch out for in 2024, according to Lloyds Bank.
Ticket scams
In 2023, concert ticket scams soared 529 per cent while football ticket scams rose by 101 per cent.
The average loss for concert ticket scams was £110 and £159 for football ticket scams.
In 2024, Lloyds Bank is warning concert and football goers to be especially wary when searching for UEFA Euro Championship, the Olympic Summer Games in Paris and Taylor Swift’s world tour.
Popular events give scammers great opportunities – when tickets are scarce, fraudsters cash in on desperate fans.
The two ‘spikes’ for this type of scam are when tickets are released and near to the date of the event.
Pet scams
Pet scams surged 24 per cent in 2023 as shoppers searched for a new furry friend. The average loss from these type of scams was £307.
The main dog breeds scammers tend to target are Yorkshire terriers, rottweilers and pomeranians, so shoppers should be on their guard for scams when searching for any of these types as a pet.
Lloyds advises shoppers to never hand over money for an animal unseen and always search through registered charities or breeders.
Vehicle scams
Vehicle scams rose 74 per cent in 2023 and the average loss from vehicle scams was £998.
The most commonly targeted vehicles by scammers are Ford Fiestas, BMW 1 Series and Volkswagen Transporters.
When buying a car, shoppers should look out for excuses. Viewing a vehicle is necessary pre-payment, so if the seller has endless excuses as to why it’s not possible, don’t hand over money in any circumstances.
Designer goods
These scams shot up by 23 per cent in 2023 and the average loss from designer goods scams was £177.
Shoppers looking to snag new Nike Jordans or Dunks, Ugg boots should be wary, as these were the labels targeted by scammers most often along with items from Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
If a deal looks too good to be true it probably is, particularly for items that are out of stock at traditional retailers.
Compare prices from trusted sources and the designer’s official website.
Holiday scams
The first Saturday after people return to work in January is traditionally a popular time for people to book a holiday abroad.
For fraudsters, this is a golden opportunity to target hopeful holidaymakers.
Lloyds data shows flight tickets are the most common fake item sold relating to holidays, but it’s not just the idea of flying abroad that lures in trusting victims.
The popularity of the ‘staycation’ remains high, with caravan holidays the next most popular holiday scam.
Nearly half of all holiday scams originate on Facebook Marketplace, but these scams can happen through more trusted websites such as AirBnB and Booking.com.
Victims arrive with their suitcases full for an exciting trip, only to find the address their host has given them is fake or the apartment they think they’ve rented, is actually home to someone else.
To avoid holiday scams, purchase tickets and hotel stays from trusted retailers or, even better, direct from the airline or hotel. When booking stays, look for valid reviews on websites such as TripAdvisor.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, says: ‘Fraudsters are constantly on the lookout for ways to scam people out of their hard-earned cash and, if you’re not on your guard when shopping online, you may be their next victim.
‘Don’t be fooled into trusting a stranger on the internet to secure a quick bargain.
‘Social media is rife with fake adverts from criminal sellers – if something is in demand and hard to get your hands on from trusted retailers, it’s probably unrealistic to think you’ve found it for half the price on Facebook Marketplace.’
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