Scam Alert: UK’s Cybersecurity Chief Warns Shoppers to Stay Vigilant During Black Friday
The UK’s cybersecurity agency NCSC in collaboration with the Action Fraud has issued guidelines for shoppers to protect themselves from online scams during Black Friday offers.
According to the latest cybersecurity news, the new figures in the report made to Action fraud revealed rising loss to cyber scammers over the last festive season. The UK’s cybersecurity agency chief has warned shoppers to stay alert while searching for deals on Black Friday.
What was in the Report?
As the report made to Action fraud revealed the rise of 1 million pounds as compared to 2022 in online losses.
GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Action Fraud revealed that Brits reported losing over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024 – with each victim losing £695 on average. The products featured in the scam are clothing, cars, tech products, etc.
Number of Scams Reported Last Year:
Around 43% of scams reported during last year’s festive period were from social media platforms. And 19% reported from online marketplaces. Most of the reports were submitted by 30 – 39 years old followed by 40 to 49 years old.
The NCSC and Action fraud Has Issued Guidelines for Shoppers:
- Setting up 2-step verification on important accounts. So that scammers can’t access those accounts.
- Keenly researching about the site and company from where shoppers are purchasing.
- Using credit cards for payments instead of bank transfers, as credit cards are safer means in such situations.
The cybersecurity agencies and law enforcement bodies are urging shoppers to stay vigilant during Black Friday.
Lord Hanson, Fraud Minister, said:
“We know that more needs to be done to tackle online fraud.
That’s why we are delighted to support initiatives like this, through the Stop! Think Fraud campaign, which provides practical, actionable advice to the public to stay safe from scams.
And our message to anyone shopping online as we approach Black Friday is simple: if you come across anything that doesn’t feel right – stop what you’re doing, break contact, and do not click any links.
This government is committed to defeating this scourge and we will continue our work with industry and other partners to better protect the public from this appalling crime.”
Adam Mercer, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said:
“Everyone will be looking to snap up good Black Friday deals and bargains whilst shopping this festive period, but unfortunately this doesn’t stop fraudsters from targeting members of the public online.
With Action Fraud data revealing more than 16,000 reports of online shopping fraud over last year’s festive period, we are urging people to shop safely online – especially if you’re buying on social media – and avoid being left empty-handed for the holiday season.
Never feel pressured into buying anything online – creating a false sense of urgency is a telltale sign of a fraudster. Whether you are shopping on online marketplaces, social media, or retailers, avoid bank transfers if you can, and use a credit card, as it can provide more protection if anything goes wrong.
You can protect yourself from fraudsters this festive season by following the practical advice on the Stop! Think Fraud website to help you shop online safely.”
NCSC CEO Richard Horne said:
“As we head into the holiday shopping season, people are understandably eager to find the best deals online.
Unfortunately, this is also prime time for cybercriminals, who exploit bargain hunters with increasingly sophisticated scams – sometimes crafted using AI – making them harder to detect.
To stay protected, I strongly recommend following our online shopping guidance, including setting up 2-step verification and creating memorable but secure passwords using three random words.”
For more information on how to protect yourself, search for “Stop! Think Fraud”.
