Yahoo Finance Watch out for fake Apple, Nike and Lego deals this Black Friday
Apple phones, Nike trainers and Lego toys among the most common items listed in fake ads as online shopping scams surge during November and December.
Fake goods are most commonly advertised on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram – more than 70% of cases start on Meta-owned platforms – with those aged 25 to 34 most likely to fall victim, according to latest figures from Lloyds.
Buyers are being told to stay alert ahead of Black Friday and Christmas as the rate of fraud being reported by consumers jumped by 18% last November and December.
The average amount lost was around £400 but some cases it can run to thousands of pounds.
Read more: Only 2% of discounted Black Friday products are actually the cheapest on the day
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Online shopping scams come in all shapes and sizes, but the vast majority start with items advertised on social media, where it’s too easy for fraudsters to use fake profiles and list items that don’t exist.
“When shopping online, the best way stay safe is to buy from a trusted retailer, and always pay by card for the greatest protection. If you’re unable to do those things, that should be a big red flag that you’re about to get scammed.”
The most common items listed in fake ads or posts include tech products like: Apple iPhones and Dyson Airwraps, fashion items such as Nike trainers and Ugg boots but also toys like lego sets and drones.
A separate Lloyds Bank poll around half of people (49%) say they don’t trust social media companies to keep them safe from scams when shopping on those platforms.
Read more: Black Friday: 10 ways to find the best deals in the sales
However, those that do shop on social media, the most common reason for buying from those platforms – rather than traditional retailers – was because items were cheaper.
This is exactly what fraudsters use to trick unsuspecting victims: deals that look too good to be true.
More than a third of people (37%) say they have fallen victim to a scam, or know someone else who has, when buying items on social media.
Watch: Black Friday scams, what to watch out for
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