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Bank in warning to shoppers after spike in purchase scams recorded

TSB urged consumers to ‘stick to responsible shopping sites that offer payment platforms’.

Vicky Shaw
Tuesday 07 November 2023 00:01 GMT
Vehicles and parts, tickets for events, trainers and clothing were all items often offered for sale by scammers, TSB said (Tim Goode/PA)
Vehicles and parts, tickets for events, trainers and clothing were all items often offered for sale by scammers, TSB said (Tim Goode/PA) (PA Wire)

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The number of purchase fraud cases seen by TSB jumped by more than a third (35%) between January and October 2023, compared with the same period in 2022.

On average, over £500 was lost per case, according to TSB’s data.

Purchase frauds happen when criminals trick people into paying for goods and services that do not exist, with scams often starting on social media, according to the bank.

Over this busy shopping period, it really pays to stick to responsible shopping sites that offer payment platforms. And don't be easily caught out by a bargain you see on social media - if it seems too good to be true, it probably is

Paul Davis, TSB

Vehicles and parts, tickets for events, trainers and clothing are often items being offered by scammers, TSB said.

TSB is also urging consumers to be wary of adverts selling pets, holidays, cosmetics, jewellery and watches.

Paul Davis, TSB director of fraud prevention, said: “At this time of year, many of us are looking online for a bargain. But it can quickly go wrong when shopping on social media sites – which are rife with scam adverts for items that simply don’t exist.

“Over this busy shopping period, it really pays to stick to responsible shopping sites that offer payment platforms. And don’t be easily caught out by a bargain you see on social media – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

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