Facebook Marketplace is most used site by scammers, with Instagram second, ahead of Black Friday 

NatWest conducted research to offer tips and guidance to shoppers in order to prevent scams during Christmas. 

Unexpected emails are to be avoidedFake texts and emails are making the rounds. Be suspicious of any emails, text messages or phone calls that seem to come from legitimate companies or organisations. They are often used to steal your private information by fraudsters. Do not click on links to download files.

When you receive emails asking for your payment information to be updated, make sure that you are vigilant Amazon UK will likely have sent you an email informing you that they do not accept UK Visa Credit Card as payment. While this email is authentic, it’s important to be cautious about receiving emails asking you to update your payment information. NatWest suggests that you access your Amazon account to make any changes. Be wary about clicking on links contained in email. Amazon may be calling you to request personal and financial details or update your payment information. You should not respond. Fraudsters are increasingly attempting to impersonate trusted organizations.

Don’t get caught out buying online:While everyone loves to save money, be careful when purchasing from online and social media marketplaces. Do your homework on any seller. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it likely is. If the website does not have a phone number or an address, it could be a sign that the seller is not genuine.

Secure websites are recommended:Your browser should start with https ://’. Secure connections are indicated by the’s’ after their URL. Pay attention to spelling mistakes or unusual characters in your web address. These can often indicate that you are visiting a fraudulent site. Remember that a secured page doesn’t necessarily mean that the merchant is trustworthy.

Pay in a secure way Pay with your debit or credit card – it’s a safer way to pay and gives you more protection. If a seller tells you they can’t accept a card payment and asks you to send them money directly, it could be a scam. Fraudsters often concoct stories to try to persuade you to transfer your money to a bank account instead of paying by another method – be suspicious of anyone asking you to do this.

Don’t give anyone your full details:Scammers make convincing claims. If anyone, claiming to be from the bank, police or another organisation you trust gets in touch and asks for information such as login details, passcodes, card reader codes, remote access to your device or tells you to transfer money from your account – don’t do it, it’s likely to be a scam.