A consumer advice charity says there has been a surge in people seeking advice after being scammed when buying second-hand goods online.
Citizens Advice said it had seen 160 per cent increase in the number of people being scammed when buying through online marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy and fashion resale platform Depop.
An overwhelming 96 per cent of adults have purchased an item online since the UK first went into lockdown in March.
At the same time, lockdown has prompted consumers to have a clear out and spring clean of the home, with many more items being sold on secondhand websites. eBay, one of the largest trading websites, said sales of used goods on the platform jumped 30 per cent between March and June this year, when most of the country was under lockdown.
But Citizens Advice said there has been a rise in mis-selling (such as items not being in the condition they were advertised) and scams that mean the item is never delivered.
Missing items
Georgia*, 17, from Liverpool, works for a bank and her job involves helping customers who have been the victim of card or bank account fraud.
Unfortunately she found herself on the other side of the helpline after being scammed through an online shopping transaction. She paid £150 for shoes that were advertised on an online marketplace, but they never arrived.
“The seller asked me to pay via bank transfer. I was a bit sceptical because we warn people against doing this as part of my job. But the seller told me that they had problems with their PayPal account so couldn’t receive the money any other way. When the shoes didn’t arrive I messaged the seller constantly, but they didn’t reply for a long time. Eventually they just said ‘it’s too late now’ and blocked me.”
Jenny*, 26, a regular online shopper, believes not enough checks are done by online marketplaces to check the sellers are genuine. So far this year five of her parcels have been lost, including a £230 from a fashion website selling secondhand items. Fortunately she was able to get the money back after the platform refunded the money.
“Luckily I was compensated by the website itself but it was impossible to get in touch with the courier’s customer care. I had to jump through many hoops to resolve the issue, and in the end only got a result by calling out the company on social media,” she says.
Taking advantage of the Christmas rush
More than 40 per cent of 18 to 24 year-olds have fallen victim to online fraud when shopping for Christmas, according to research by cyber security firm McAfee.
The Christmas season is the ideal time for fraudsters to strike, with scammers likely to take advantage of the Christmas “rush” to persuade unwitting consumers to part with credit and bank details and passwords.
Rebekah Moody, director of fraud at data and analytics firm LexisNexis Risk Solutions, says online shoppers should be wary of emails, text messages and other communications alerting you to problems with online orders and purchases, or deliveries. If something tells you a payment has failed and asks for alternative card details, avoid clicking on any links provided. Instead contact the retailer directly or log into your account to check.
“Real merchants will never contact you via these means, and it’s most likely to be fraudsters looking to capitalise on shoppers’ fears of missing out on purchases ahead of Christmas. Equally, be extra vigilant if being asked to share confidential personal details with others, whether it be online, on social media, or over the phone – ask yourself, do you really know who the person you’re talking to is? If you receive a call claiming to be from your bank or a retailer you’ve purchased from, there’s no harm in calling them back on their official number to double check the request is legitimate,” she adds.
*Surnames declined to be given
Covid scams to be aware of
The rise in the number of financially vulnerable consumers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has created the ideal breeding ground for scammers. There has been 3,709 reports of COVID-19 related fraud as of 31 October, accounting for £20,127,684 unverified losses, according to Action Fraud.
Watch out for bogus emails offering a refund on council tax and utility bills, as these give scammers potential access to your personal and bank details. In July the Crown Prosecution Service jailed a man aged 20 for 30 weeks after he sent more than one thousand texts claiming to be from the authorities offering refunds to people as part of the Government’s response to the pandemic. He obtained 191 sets of personal details and used 49 for fraud. The total loss to his victims was £10,019.17.
Products such as supplements and anti-virus kits that claim to “protect” against coronavirus are fake and will not work. Consumers may face pressure from salespeople or their own doorsteps or through dubious call centres.
Some mobile phone apps promise to give updates on the virus, but instead lock your phone and demand a ransom. Britons are encouraged to use the official NHS Covid-19 app giving information and identifying when the user has been in close contact with someone who has later tested positive for Covid-19.
Always check charity collection “volunteers”. To check a charity is legitimate, visit gov.uk/checkcharity. All charities with an annual income of at least £5,000 must be registered here.
Fake investment opportunities, encouraging victims to “take advantage of the financial downturn”, are on the rise. Bitcoin platforms are using emails and adverts on social media platforms to encourage unsuspecting victims to put money into fake investment companies using bogus websites.
Meanwhile there are fraudsters preying on benefit recipients, offering to help apply for Universal Credit, while taking some of the payment as an advance for their “services”.
A Covid-19 Fraud Hotline to report suspected fraudulent activity has been set up by the government in conjunction with Crimestoppers. It is free of charge and can be accessed by calling 0800 587 5030 or by filling in at online form at Covidfraudhotline.org.
