Natwest issues urgent air fryer warning ahead of…

Natwest issues urgent air fryer warning ahead of Christmas

Natwest has issued a warning to anyone looking to buy an air fryer this Christmas.

With energy prices at an all-time high, the air fryer is expected to a popular present this festive season. However, the bank has warned Christmas shoppers to be vigilant as it estimates around £10m will be stolen by fraudsters between Black Friday and Christmas through purchase scams.

A purchase scam is when fraudsters sell non-existent products at a discounted price to attract buyers. This is to prompt the victim to make a payment but the products do not exist and never arrive.

The bank warns another typical sign of a purchase scam is a time-based deal that adds pressure to the purchaser to buy now without thinking. The Fraud and Scams expert at the bank expects a surge in purchase scams across the Black Friday sales event.

Stuart Skinner added: "Black Friday is a great time of year to pick up a bargain but unfortunately it is also exploited by criminals. If you’re being sold something at a knock-down price from a private seller on social media or a website you’re not familiar with – don’t do it.

"Your goods won’t turn up and you’ll be left out of pocket. If it’s an unusually good bargain for an item you know is worth a lot more, chances are it’s a scam."

Another emerging scam is personal heaters which are increasingly popular as consumers try to keep down heating bills. The final item on NatWest’s predictions list of top scams to beware of are games consoles, such as PlayStations and Xboxes.

NatWest and Take 5 advice on avoiding purchase scams this year

Criminals spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment
Be suspicious of any “too good to be true” offers or prices
Be careful what website you are purchasing from – have you ever heard of it or seen it before?
Use the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites
Where possible, use a credit card when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive protection under the Credit Consumer Act
Don’t just go by a photo of an item – these can be easily faked
Purchase items made by a major brand from the list of authorised sellers listed on their official website
Be wary of clicking on links in unsolicited emails
Always ensure you click ‘log out’ or ‘sign out’ of websites.
STOP - Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
CHALLENGE - Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
PROTECT- Contact your bank immediately by dialling 159 if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.