How to avoid scammers this festive season

With Black Friday and Christmas shopping are the horizon, many Islanders will be looking to get on a treat for themselves, or a gift for a loved one.

But while shoppers are looking for bargains, scammers will be looking for their next victim. Every year, scammers post fake adverts for high-demand goods, trying to trick people into paying for clothes, jewellery and high-end tech that doesn’t exist.

Often, they’ll ask for payment upfront before disappearing. Sometimes, they may send you a link so you can make payment. They’ll tell you that you need to enter personal information to complete the transaction. In truth, they can use these details to access your accounts and steal more money from you.

Last Christmas, people in the UK reported losing more than £11.5 million to online criminals. On average, people lost £695 each.

Fraud is also a major problem for Jersey – between March 2023 and March 2024, people across the Channel Islands lost £7.3 million to a range of frauds, including fake adverts.

This information is designed to help you spot suspicious adverts, and respond to them. For more cyber security advice and guidance, you can visit our information pages. You can also book a free cyber advice session with our team by completing this form.

How to spot a suspicious advert

Don’t lose money to scammers. Be on the lookout for signs of a suspicious advert:

Bargain prices

If the price you’re being asked seems too good to be true, there’s a very good chance that it is. Scammers will often advertise low prices to tempt shoppers.

Pressure tactics

Scammers may use language designed to pressure you into buying. Phrases such as “must be sold by tomorrow” or “very few copies left” or “exclusive offer” are designed to provoke an emotional reaction.

Images that don’t look right

Scammers will often use stock or low-quality images as part of their scams, and it often shows. For example, someone selling on a Jersey social media group may use a photo that clearly isn’t taken in Jersey. A scam website may use a logo you recognise, but it may be look ‘fuzzy’ or be distorted.

Being directed off site

A scammer may direct you to a link to complete your purchase. While they may claim that this is for ease, it could well be that this link is designed to capture your personal information so they can access your accounts.

What do you do if you’re targeted

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from online scams:

Research the company and/or the seller

A reputable company should have a website, or social media channels. They may also have reviews from people who have purchased their products. If a company or seller does not have any of these, you should be cautious.

Check their profile

If you’re buying from an individual via social media, take some time to check their profile. Do they have a photo and details associated with their account? Do they have recent activity? Is it clear that they’re based in Jersey? Have they offered the same product for sale in other groups?

Break contact and don’t click on any links

if you are being pressured to enter your details on an unfamiliar site, don’t follow the link. The fraudsters may use this link to try and get your personal details, which they can use to steal money.

Protect your account with 2-Step Verification (2SV)

2SV asks to confirm your identity more than once when you log in to a device, website, or service. This means that even if a scammer has access to your password, it’ll be harder for them to access your account. You can find instructions on how to turn on 2SV via the Stop! Think Fraud website.

Report it, even if you don’t fall for it

If you’re the victim of fraud, you should report it to the States of Jersey Police (see below). But – if you suspect fraud – you should still report it to the States of Jersey Police, and to JCSC. We can share information about the fraud and stop other people from becoming victims.

What to do if you’re a victim of fraud

If you’re the victim of a fraud over the Christmas season, you shouldn’t feel ashamed. Criminals work hard to make their scams targeted and convincing: it’s how they make their money.

If you are the victim of a fraud, you should contact the States of Jersey Police on +44(o)1534 612612, or visit Police Headquarters.

Remember, if you find a cyber scam that you think might pose a serious risk to you or others, you can report it to JCSC using our contact details. The information you share may prevent other Islanders from becoming the next target.