Barnet residents lost early £635,00 to scams in October 2023 and online shopping and auction frauds were the biggest single scam. In the run up to Chrustmas we are encouraging you and your family and friends to be extra vigilant.
Auction websites such as eBay and AutoTrader allow you to buy new or second hand goods for competitive prices.However, among the genuine buyers and sellers on these sites, there are criminals who use the anonymity of the internet to offer goods for sale they do not have, or are fake. Read the website’s advice and stick to it.
Fraudsters might be insistent you pay via bank transfer instead. By communicating and paying away from the website, contrary to their policies, you risk losing any protection you had.
How to protect yourself
Stay on site!
Be wary of offers that look too good to be true.
Read the consumer advice on any website you are using to make a purchase. Use the recommended payment method, or you may not be refunded for any losses to fraud.
Research the seller/buyer and any of their bidding history.
Don’t be convinced by pictures, they may have been taken from somewhere else on the internet. You can check photos using a reverse image search on the internet through websites like www.tineye.com or https://reverse.photos/
Be suspicious of any requests to pay by bank transfer or virtual currency instead of the websites recommended payment methods.
Never buy a vehicle without seeing it in person. Ask to see the relevant documentation for the vehicle to ensure the seller has ownership.
Our scams prevention team are there for all over 55s who need advice -, call a member of our team on 0208 432 2217. Check our our scams awarness page here for an updated list of the latest scams.
