During busy shopping periods, it’s all too easy to fall victim to a growing number of online scams. When it comes to how to save money for Christmas (opens in new tab), this year, more than ever, you might be tempted to embrace Black Friday discounts to pick up some bargains. But amidst all the hysteria, Black Friday (opens in new tab) also provides rich pickings for fraudsters.
Jane Hawkes (opens in new tab), independent consumer champion and founder of the Lady Janey customer service blog , warns: “As the cost-of-living crisis worsens, so do the scams, with bargain-hunting customers being the ideal prey. Even the savviest shopper can be caught out by scammers, so don’t think for one minute it won’t happen to you.”
Personal finance analyst Sarah Coles (opens in new tab) from Hargreaves Lansdown agrees and says that come Black Friday, the desire to save some much-needed cash can make us all drop our guard. “The fact that deals are only available for such a short period of time can make…
