NatWest Launches Advent Calendar To Help Brits Avoid Scams
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NatWest has launched a unique “Scamvent” calendar to help protect people from scams. The calendar has 12 doors, each hiding a piece of information about the most common scams people might face this holiday season.
Inside, there are finely crafted chocolates, each representing a scam that could happen when people are shopping.
The bank’s new project is part of its efforts to raise awareness about scams, which tend to increase during the busy shopping months of November and December. These months are filled with events like Black Friday and Christmas sales, where many people shop online. NatWest said scams are most common during this time of year.
NatWest reveals The Rise In Scams During The Holiday Season
According to new research by NatWest, 41% of British adults reported getting more scam messages during November and December. Last year, criminals stole a record £85.9 million through scams. There were 156,516 cases of people being tricked, with most of the scams happening online.
Phone scams are the most common, accounting for 26% of all scams. Ticket scams are the second most common, accounting for 23%. Experts are worried about the rise of these scams and have urged people to stay alert during the busy shopping season.
The Scamvent calendar highlights the most common items that people get scammed for. These include online vouchers or gift cards (23%), laptops and tablets (21%), clothing (19%), home appliances like vacuum cleaners (15%), and jewelry (12%).
Other items commonly involved in scams are video games (11%), cars or campervans (11%), watches (10%), luxury handbags (9%), and trainers or shoes (9%). Criminals often trick people into thinking they are getting a good deal, but they end up losing their money to fraudsters.
NatWest Warns Shoppers To Be Careful When Shopping Online
Stuart Skinner, a fraud expert from NatWest, reminded shoppers to be careful, especially during busy shopping times like Black Friday and Christmas. He said people need to be cautious when buying items online, as they can’t always be sure they are getting what they expect.
Skinner advised people to take extra time to check the websites they are buying from and to be aware of deals that seem too good to be true. Skinner also suggested visiting NatWest’s Security Centre for tips on staying safe while shopping online.
According to experts, it’s important to watch out for certain warning signs of scams. If an online offer seems too cheap or if a website doesn’t look professional, it might be a scam.
With more scams happening each year, NatWest is doing everything it can to warn customers about the risks. The Scamvent calendar is just one part of the bank’s effort to stop fraud and help shoppers stay safe.
