Tag: Black Friday

Avoiding scams on Black Friday

A LEADING consumer expert has shared her top tips for avoiding being scammed or having your bank account emptied by cyber criminals when shopping for Christmas on Black Friday this week.

Jane Hawkes warned that consumers have to be on high alert for online scammers who try to cash in on one of the busiest days in the year for retailers.

She said cyber-crooks are bombarding consumers with emails that are designed to trick them into revealing sensitive information like banking and credit card details.

In the past few days, banks, building societies and online retailers have issued warnings as the nation gets ready to spend.

Data released by Action Fraud revealed that there were more than 16,000 reports of online shopping fraud during last year’s festive season.

Many fraudsters rely on text and email messages that appear to be from legitimate businesses but contain links to fake websites that are designed to harvest bank logins and credit card details.

The process is known as phishing and the mobile phone firm Three said it received over 3,500 complaints about fraudsters over the last holiday period.

The cyber security firm Bitdefender estimates that 77% of Black Friday-themed spam emails are scams, while Barclays says the average loss on a shopping scam is £700.

And consumer expert Jane said attackers are becoming more creative: “They are now tailoring their tactics and messaging for greater appeal to different groups of shoppers in specific demographics and regions.

“These are organised cyber criminals sending billions of messages using tactics that include phishing emails, sophisticated malware attacks, and the impersonation of popular brands. 

“Beware, for example, of ‘dear customer’ emails and messages warning that a package has been delayed and asking you to click on a link to confirm your details.

“There are even kits that can be bought on the Dark Web that allow criminals to set up very convincing but fake online banking portals, so the stakes can be very high.”

Her advice to shoppers is:

  • Do your research with due diligence- the devil is in the detail, make sure you check it. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Trust your gut feeling.
  • Check reviews before purchase – watch out for any which are overly complimentary and with similar wording. This could be a sign of a scam outfit as opposed to a genuine endorsement.
  • Be wary of any red flags – super cheap pricing, urgency to make time pressured decisions, unknown companies, lack of contact details on websites and websites which don’t function correctly, misspelling of website urls or item descriptions.
  • Check unfamiliar domain names on Who is? https://who.is/
  • Pay for purchases via credit card for maximum consumer protection.
  • Set up alerts with banks and providers so you are alerted if there is any activity on your account or your card is being used.
  • Have different passwords for your online accounts. Once a scammer works out a password they can easily try it on all of your accounts.

55% of Accidental Deaths Happen at Home: Black Friday Warning to Avoid Unsafe Products 

 
With 55% of accidental deaths occurring in the home, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging shoppers to prioritise safety this Black Friday. Unsafe products, counterfeit goods, and poor-quality items can turn your home into a danger zone. 

Adding to the concern, threats to breathing—such as choking and suffocation—have increased by 17% in the last decade, highlighting the critical importance of buying safe, reliable products, especially for children and vulnerable family members. 

Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy at RoSPA, said: “Your home should be a safe place, not a hazard. Unsafe products bought during sales can lead to serious risks like choking, fire, or poisoning.

“This Black Friday, prioritise safety over savings to ensure you protect your loved ones and create a safer environment at home.” 
 

RoSPA’s Top Tips for Staying Safe While Shopping Online 

To help shoppers avoid dangerous deals and make informed choices, RoSPA provides the following guidance:
 

  • Prioritise Safety Over Savings 
    While discounts may tempt you, ensure products meet UK safety standards. Research thoroughly, particularly when buying toys, electronics, and household items. 
     
  • Be Wary of Counterfeit Goods and Check for Safety Markings 
    Counterfeit products often fail to meet safety regulations. Always purchase from trusted retailers and ensure that toys, electronics, and other high-risk items display the CE or UKCA mark. 
     
  • Stay Informed About Product Recalls 
    Check the UK Government’s product recall website before buying to ensure the product hasn’t been flagged as unsafe. 
     
  • Be Extra Vigilant with Children’s Products 
    For items aimed at babies or children, buy from reputable retailers and check authenticity and safety labels. Make sure that the product contains instructions. 
     
  • Report Unsafe Products 
    If you receive a product that appears unsafe, report it to the retailer and Trading Standards (contactable through Citizens Advice). Reporting helps prevent others from being harmed. 
     

The Dangers of Unsafe Products at Home 

With more than half of accidental deaths happening in the home, shoppers must make safety a top priority. Poorly made products can lead to preventable accidents, including: 

  • Choking hazards from toys with small parts. 
  • Fire risks from uncertified electrical devices. 
  • Poisoning incidents from unlabelled or improperly sealed household items. 

Black Friday: Cyber security expert warns shoppers to be vigilant

CYBER criminals will be looking to exploit shoppers during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales – an expert from cyber security firm CSS Assure has warned.

With UK consumers planning to spend an estimated £5.6bn on Black Friday (24 November) and Cyber Monday (27 November) purchases this year, Charlotte Riley, director of information security at technology at CSS Assure, said bargain hunters lowering their guards during the rush to bag the best deals are at greater risk of malicious threats.

Charlotte said: “In the run-up to and during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many outlets will run promotional offers to encourage spending. This is a potentially lucrative time of year for cyber criminals as they know shoppers are less vigilant as they rush to snap up the best deals.

“Cyber criminals will no doubt be looking to take advantage of the vast amount of transactions taking place and the financial information being shared as a result. There is also an increase in promotional email traffic, which makes it hard to differentiate the real bargains from scams – presenting a heightened risk of phishing attacks.

“With this in mind, it is important consumers take steps to protect themselves and their families during two of the biggest shopping days of the year.”

Password management

“Firstly, shoppers should think about the last time they changed their passwords, especially on important accounts. If their passwords are dated then strongly consider changing them, and, if possible, use a password management solution to ensure they are unique and appropriately complex.

“While this is a faff, it is the single greatest defence you can make to protect yourself against a cyber attack and will instantly make you much safer online. Adding an extra layer of security like two-factor authentication can prevent unauthorised access even if someone gets hold of your password.

“Currently, there are millions of emails and passwords for sale on the dark web, which have been breached by companies that have not protected people’s personal data sufficiently. Cyber criminals can buy this data for minimal amounts of money and gain access to your emails.

“They will look for social media accounts and online high street accounts and test your combination to gain access. From this, they can gather more personal data until they have enough to conduct identity theft, which could result in credit being taken out in your name or using your saved payment cards to make online purchases, for example.”

Personal data breach identification

“It is a good idea to understand whether your data has been breached so you can put in place other necessary measures to protect yourself. To do this you can use a free service provided by Have I Been Pwned. All you need to do is enter your email address and the site will tell you whether it is associated with a breach and if so, what other data has been stolen.

“If you have been breached, it is even more important that you change your password to break the chain. Next, you need to understand whether you have been entered into any spambots – as the name suggests, these are bots that send spam to you.

“While some spam is laughable, others are highly credible. If you’re rushing, there’s a higher change you will click a link in a spam email, which could execute malware or ransomware on your device.

“A blended strategy is best for rectifying and avoiding your exposure to spam – and, in turn, the chances of clicking on a malicious link.

“Start by enabling and customising your email provider’s spam filters to automatically detect and redirect suspicious emails to the spam folder. These settings – as well as your security and privacy options – should also be regularly reviewed or adjusted. Unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters or promotional emails, and make spam emails as junk within your email platform.

“Some email services offer the option to create disposable or temporary email addresses for specific purposes. This way if the address gets compromised or spammed, you can easily discard it without affecting your primary email. You should also be cautious about sharing your email address on public forums, social media, or unfamiliar websites to minimise exposure to potential spammers.

“While these may seem to be arduous tasks, they are effective and vital ways to protect yourself.”

Check your anti-virus protection

“Finally, make sure your anti-virus protection is installed, activated with a valid licence and updated. While free anti-virus software is available, in life you get what you pay for and it may not protect you sufficiently. Competition to provide the best anti-virus changes year on year between the main vendors as they achieve technology breakthroughs in response to the evolution in cyber threats.

“The best thing to do is check reputable tech websites for reviews of the best current anti-virus software. We recommend buying a one-year licence, and then when it comes to renew, assess which company has moved to the forefront of anti-malware protection. There will always be new customer deals to be had.”

Major Black Friday deals at Fort Kinnaird

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Christmas has come early at Fort Kinnaird as retailers reveal a range of exclusive, money-saving Black Friday deals for shoppers in Edinburgh – with many discounts already available in stores now. 

Savvy shoppers can discover offers including up to 50% off in store at Mamas & Papas, up to 60% off at Mountain Warehouse, up to £250 of saving per booking with TUI, up to 50% at H.Samuel and a range of tech deals at Currys, with more still set to be revealed.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Black Friday can be a great opportunity to tick off some of your Christmas list, or maybe even treat yourself ahead of the festive season, and lots of our retailers will be offering a wide range of exclusive deals. 

“A number of retailers are launching bigger deals than ever before, and with many offers also running until the end of the month there are plenty of opportunities for shoppers to take advantage of savings.”

A full list of the Black Friday offers currently available at Fort Kinnaird can be found here, with more still to be added.

*Please see individual retailer websites for terms and conditions. 

Fort Kinnaird is open from 9am – 9pm on weekdays, and 9am – 6pm on weekends.  

RoSPA’s warning to public against bad bargains this Black Friday

With Black Friday sales in full swing, leading accident prevention charity The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging shoppers to know what to look for to ensure they’re buying safe products:

  1. Only purchase from reputable traders

If a trader does not have a high street presence in the UK, check online reviews before buying.  Online sellers should have a UK address listed on their website.

  1. Look for the appropriate toy safety marks

In England, Scotland and Wales only buy costumes or toys which carry UKCA or CE marks. In the case of Northern Ireland look for the UKNI symbol along with the UKCA or CE mark.

Shoppers can also look for the Lion Mark, which members of the British Toy and Hobby Association can use to mark a safe product.

All fancy-dress costumes, including wigs and face masks, should be flame-retardant in accordance with EN71 part 2 – the safety standard for flammability of toys. 

Additionally, items sold in the UK by a member of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) are likely to have been made to a higher standard of fire safety and labelled with the words ‘This garment has undergone additional safety testing for flammability.’

  1. Make sure toys are age appropriate

Age recommendations on toys are based on research from manufacturers and considers safety, which is why we recommend using age-appropriate toys, and being mindful of younger siblings accessing them.

  1. Beware of button batteries

Many toys and gadgets run on lithium-ion button batteries, which can cause catastrophic injuries if ingested. While The Toy Safety Regulations state that toys with button batteries in should have lockable battery compartments, they might still become unsecure or damaged.

Be extra vigilant with all bargains bought this Black Friday, particularly with electronic devices, flameless candles and musical greetings cards.

  1. Be mindful of magnets

From decorations and toys to fake piercings and more, magnets are often found in products. Much like button batteries, if they are ingested, they have the potential to cause significant injuries.

  1. Inspect your electricals

The Black Friday sales can be the time that people wait to make their electrical purchases, but products without the appropriate safety marks can cause fires and devastation.  In England, Scotland and Wales only buy electricals which carry UKCA or CE marks. In the case of Northern Ireland look for the UKNI symbol along with the UKCA or CE mark.

The above advice also applies to e-scooters and e-bikes, and they should always be charged in a place outside the home if possible.

Philip LeShirley, Product Safety Advisor at RoSPA, said: “Black Friday and Cyber Monday provide great opportunities for consumers to save money, especially when buying Christmas presents for loved ones. 

“RoPSA encourages all consumers to do some checks on sellers and products before they purchase items, as some “bargains” can in fact be unsafe products, or not suitable for the age of the recipient.”

Barclays: Stay vigilant on Black Friday

Barclays report suggests 72% of people living in Scotland will do most or all of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday

34% surge in Black Friday shopping scams last year

  • 72% of people living in Scotland will do most or all of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday
  • 44% of people living in Scotland will do most or all of their Black Friday shopping online
  • 56% of people living in Scotland say they plan to spend between £100 and £400 online shopping this Black Friday
  • After last year’s Black Friday sales, there was a 34 per cent surge in reported purchase scams, according to new Barclays data.
  • Victims lost on average £1,072 to purchase scams during the seasonal shopping period.

New data from Barclays suggests that 72% of people living in Scotland are likely to do all or most of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday with 56% saying they will spend between £100 and £400 on the day.

The figures also reveal that 36% of people living in Scotland will be relying on Black Friday sales more than previous years as they are looking to make savings wherever they can and 31% feel pressure to make purchases as quickly as possible to make sure they get the best deals.

A further 44% plan to do most or all of their Black Friday shopping online this year.

However, the number of reported purchase scams after Black Friday and Cyber Monday across the UK last year rose by 34 per cent, with an average of £1,072 lost to scammers.

Barclays data also shows that the proportion of scams taking place on tech platforms, such as purchase/auctions sites, social media, or dating apps, has increased by 71% since the beginning of 2021.  Currently 77% of all scams take place on these platforms, but at the beginning of 2021 it was just 45%.

With the average Brit expected to spend over £200 on shopping during Black Friday this year, Barclays is urging shoppers to take extra care when purchasing things online throughout the sales season.

The Bank’s findings reveal that worryingly, many consumers are changing their normal behaviour on Black Friday when searching for the best deals.  Almost a third (32%) across the UK feel pressured to make a purchase as quickly as possible to make sure they get the best deal.  

One in five (19%) said they were more likely to take note of a “too good to be true” deal, and a further 17% admitted to shopping on sites they haven’t heard of before if they have particularly good deals or sales.

Ross Martin, Head of Digital Safety at Barclays, said: “Whilst Black Friday is a great way for Brits to save money ahead of the Christmas season, it is important to stay vigilant when making purchases.

“This year more than ever, people will be looking for the best bargains, which could lead them right into the hands of scammers, who will be advertising false offers to lure victims in.

“Just remember – ignore any pressure that is being put on you – and if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Barclays is urging buyers to follow these four steps this Black Friday:

  1. Do your due diligence: Research and read reviews to check the site and the seller are genuine.
  2. View the item: If you can, view the item in person first to make sure it exists, especially if it’s a big purchase, like a smartphone or even a car.
  3. Get a second opinion: Always speak to someone you trust for a second opinion, whether it’s a friend, family member, or your bank.
  4. Be wary of unlikely offers: Many purchase scams offer huge discounts that you wouldn’t normally find at retailers you would normally trust. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information, and tips to stay alert from the latest scams, please visit: www.barclays.co.uk/scams/.

Shop ’til you drop at St James Quarter with unmissable deals and live entertainment

The countdown to Black Friday is now on and as shoppers in Edinburgh prepare to seek out this year’s best deals, St James Quarter has revealed the unmissable discounts that will be on offer across its exciting selection of retailers. 

Available throughout Black Friday weekend (from 25th – 28th November) and beyond, St James Quarter will play host to the biggest and best offers from top retailers including up to 40% off the latest fashion items at Zara (selected lines on 25th November), up to 20% off the hottest makeup, skincare and fragrance at H Beauty (between 25th – 28th November) and 50% off Neom’s ‘Night in with Neom’ Box for those who want to indulge in a little self-care (until 30th November).

For more information about all of the latest Black Friday deals on offer at St James Quarter click here.  

Shoppers can also enjoy the Black Friday feeling with live entertainment between 2pm – 6pm on Friday and Saturday from The Quarter’s very own resident DJs, Fi and Mairi Buchanan, who will be filling the Galleria with sounds of the best-known Christmas classics. 

Guests can shop til they drop before taking a moment to refresh with The Quarter’s impressive dining and leisure destinations including Ka Pao, The Alchemist, Lane7, Everyman Cinema and Tortilla which are open until late. The Quarter also recently welcomed back lively Alpine Village, Bar Hütte, to St James Square where visitors can enjoy a festive drink and singsong in one of its Cosy Karaoke Hüttes until 2nd January.  

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “Black Friday marks the beginning of the festive shopping season and following the opening of some really exciting retailers this year, we expect there to be a real buzz at St James Quarter this weekend as our guests seek out the best deals and take advantage of our hospitality offering. 

“November has already been a strong month for us in terms of footfall, but at a time when we know saving money is important to our guests, we’re looking forward to a busy but no doubt successful day of deal-hunting, with plenty more festive activity still to come before the end of 2022.” 

With so many great deals on offer, nobody wants to be restricted by how many bags they can carry, and St James Quarter has the perfect solution with its handsfree shopping service, Dropit, which allows shoppers to drop bags at Guest Services for later collection or, have them delivered straight to their door (for guests who live in Scotland). 

For those looking for a more relaxed approach to Black Friday, the St James Quarter website offers Crowd Checker, which provides shoppers with live capacity updates to help guests find quieter times to visit.

The Quarter also has a 1,600 space car park, which offers all day and overnight parking, allowing more convenience for shoppers travelling by car. 

During the festive period, selected retailers at St James Quarter will also be extending their opening hours on certain days. 

Black Friday: Cybersecurity expert’s top tips for safely shopping online

The busiest time of year for shopping is fast approaching and there are many deals to be had. However, it’s important to keep ourselves safe from hackers and scammers that target online shoppers. 

Online safety expert Chris Bluvshtein at VPNOverview.com gives his top ten tips for keeping yourself safe while shopping online during the holidays. 

Stick to websites you know 

You might be tempted by a Google link promising an amazing deal but before you click, look at the name. If it’s not something you recognise, don’t go there. Hackers can use similar names to high-street brands to trick you into giving up your data so double check the site is the one you know. Google also tells you if you’ve visited the site before so it’s worth taking your time and checking for those details. 

Check the URL bar 

Every website should have a valid security certificate and you can tell by the little padlock icon next to the URL. If a website doesn’t have one of these then don’t give your bank details or valuable information. 

Check your bank statements 

You might not even be aware of your details being stolen until it’s too late, but by making it a habit to check your account and statements you’ll be able to catch any suspicious activity early on. Your bank will have information on any time limits they have for fraudulent purchases, so be sure to keep an eye on your statements. 

Use a password manager 

The safest thing you can do is use a unique, randomised password for all your accounts. But instead of writing those down on post-it notes or in notebooks, use a password manager to keep them all in one place. Password managers lock your information behind a master password and many of them autofill the website logins for you, keeping you safe from keylogger attacks. 

Don’t shop on public Wi-Fi 

You might be tempted to hop onto your favourite shopping site while having a coffee at your local cafe, but that public wi-fi connection is extremely dangerous to use. Public Wi-Fi rarely has safety protocols such as passwords in place and hackers can piggyback and steal unsecured banking details and sensitive information without you knowing.  

Use mobile payments 

Apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay can protect your banking details so if a website accepts them, it’s best to use them instead of your debit card. 

Use a credit card 

If something is high value, don’t use your debit card to pay for it. Consumer law in the UK means that you could get refunds or claim your money back if your card is stolen. Credit cards also have more protections than debit cards. 

Set up a temporary bank account 

By opening an online only bank account such as Revolut or Monzo, you can control the amount of money you have access to with transfers from your usual account. This way, even if your details are compromised, the hacker can’t do anything to your real bank account. 

Use a VPN 

A VPN protects your data from prying eyes. Everything you send is encrypted so even if a hacker can see you on a network, they won’t be able to access your sensitive information. VPNs connect you to a remote server and hide your IP, using one along with any of our other tips can make your online shopping super secure. 

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! 

Be careful with any adverts for amazing deals. You might never get the item or there could be hidden dangers. This old saying still rings true with online shopping. 

Black Friday: Resist the frenzy for the sake of the planet, say campaigners

Environmental campaigners say we should resist the shopping frenzy this Black Friday for the sake of the planet.

Tomorrow (Friday 25 November), retail giants like Amazon will be slashing their prices in an attempt to boost their sales – but campaigners are asking people to consider the costs to the environment before they make unnecessary purchases this year.

Surveys have shown that huge numbers of people regret the purchases that are made in the rush of the sales, and that they find it a stressful experience. Smaller retailers with more sustainable, local, personal services find they can’t compete with the artificially low prices of retail giants. Last year, 85% of independent retailers opted out of Black Friday.

Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Changing our culture of consumption is an essential part of tackling the climate crisis. Saying no to phoney Black Friday deals is an important way in which we, as more informed consumers, can take back power.

“Big retailers pressurise people to buy more in an effort to boost their sales. This drive towards consuming more means that even more resources are extracted from nature, generating climate-wrecking emissions.

“To really tackle over-consumption, governments need to hold big business to account. The Scottish Government is bringing in a circular economy law next year which must force producers and retailers to accept responsibility for their planet destroying single-use products, and to make reuse and recycling cheaper and easier for people.”

The Scottish Government consulted on a new circular economy law earlier this year. A draft of the bill is expected in early 2023. Scotland’s material use is more than double the sustainable limit, and 82% of Scotland’s carbon footprint comes from the products and services we buy.

Action Fraud alert: Shop safely ahead of Cyber Monday

Scam online shopping bargains which were ‘too good to be true’ cost shoppers £15.4 million over the Christmas period last year

New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year – an increase of almost two thirds (61 per cent) when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Ahead of Cyber Monday, Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online as reports of online shopping fraud have continued to surge as shoppers continue to buy from web based retailers in light of the pandemic.

Pauline Smith, Director of Action Fraud, said: “Christmas is an incredibly busy time for us all but sadly, criminals will see this is as an ideal opportunity to take advantage of shoppers who are caught up in the excitement of securing a bargain online.

“If you think you have found a bargain that is too good to be true, it probably is. Stop and think before making a purchase as it could protect you and your money.

“Always shop with official retailers and follow our simple advice to enjoy shopping online safely and ensure you are not left empty handed this Christmas.”

During the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale events last year (23 November – 6 December 2020), almost £2.5 million was lost to criminals – an average loss of almost £550 per victim.

Shoppers reported buying mobile phones (26 per cent), electronics (17 per cent), vehicles (10 per cent) and clothing and footwear (8 per cent) on sites such as Facebook (18 per cent), eBay (14 per cent) and Gumtree (7 per cent), only to have the items never arrive.

Over half (54 per cent) of reports that mentioned electronics referenced popular game consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation 5.

The highest percentage of reports (27 per cent) came from 20 to 29 year olds and over two thirds (68 per cent) of victims were aged 20 to 49 years old.

One common tactic used to defraud victims is the use of fake websites that are purporting to be reputable companies. These websites are created to look identical to the real website they are imitating and will advertise items but at a much cheaper price than retail price to entice victims. In reality, these websites are fake and the victim will never receive the item they have paid for.

How to protect yourself

Choosing where you shop: If you are making a purchase from a website or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first. Look online for reviews of the website or person you are buying from. If you are purchasing an item from an online marketplace, you can view the seller’s feedback history before going ahead with the purchase.

Payment method: Use a payment method that offers buyer protection, such as a credit card if you have one, as most major credit card providers will help you get your money back if the item is faulty or damaged, or if it never arrives.

Staying secure online: Use a strong, separate password for your email account. Criminals can use your email to access other online accounts, such as those you use for online shopping. You should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA), where possible, which gives your online account additional protection by double checking that you really are the person you claim to be, when logging in. For further information about how to stay secure online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk.

Watch out for phishing emails or texts: Some of the emails or texts you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you are unsure, don’t use the link and visit the website directly instead.

If you receive an email you’re not quite sure about, you can report it by forwarding the email to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service at report@phishing.gov.uk.

You can report suspicious texts you have received by forwarding the original message to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad.

You can report suspicious websites via the National Cyber Security Centre’s scam website reporting service.

Action Fraud also advises that the public follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep themselves safe from fraud.

  • 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 okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you’re in Scotland, you can report it to Police Scotland on 101.

For more advice, please click here here.

HMRC: Be aware of post-Brexit changes before key Christmas shopping dates

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging online shoppers in Scotland to avoid being hit with unexpected customs charges.

Changes introduced on 1 January 2021 means that consumers who previously had to pay charges when buying certain items from non-EU sellers may now also need to do the same when buying goods from the EU.

Katherine Green and Sophie Dean, Directors General, Borders and Trade, HMRC, said: “With Christmas rapidly approaching, we don’t want shoppers to be caught out by unexpected charges which will take the fun out of their shopping experience.

“There are now a number of factors that people will need to consider when purchasing goods from the EU, so shoppers are being advised to check guidance to ensure they know what they will owe.”

HMRC recommends people look at the seven top tips below to determine whether there will be charges on their goods.

If there are charges to pay, shoppers may also need to pay a “handling fee” to the courier company before their goods are released.

  1.   Be aware of where you, the recipient, are based.
  • Shoppers based in Northern Ireland won’t be affected by these changes due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, however those in Great Britain should be prepared for potential changes.

2.    Check whether your order contains excise goods, such as tobacco, alcohol or perfume.

  • Unlike other items, there is no lower threshold for customs charges when it comes to excise goods, so there will be charges due no matter the value or origin of your goods.
  • Shoppers buying excise goods will need to pay import VAT and excise duty. They may also need to pay customs duty (see tip 7 for more info).
  1. Check whether your order is worth more than £135, before extra costs, such as shipping and insurance are applied.
  • Shoppers buying stocking fillers or small value items, not including excise goods, don’t need to worry as goods sent in consignments worth less than £135 should not attract additional charges, as UK VAT is collected by the seller on behalf of HMRC at the point of sale. This also applies to goods being purchased from non-EU countries.
  • Anyone buying a more expensive product from abroad – over £135 – will now need to pay import VAT and may need to pay customs duty. The amount due will depend on a range of factors, including shipping and insurance costs so, to avoid surprises, consumers should consult their seller. 
  • Shoppers who already know they will need to pay import VAT should make sure their seller does not charge them VAT, otherwise they may be charged twice (see tip 5 for more info).
  1. Be mindful of new charges when sending or receiving gifts from an individual based overseas.
  • If you’re lucky enough to receive a gift from someone based in the EU and it is valued at less than £39 and it does not contain excise goods, it will be exempt from import VAT and customs duty. Above the £39 threshold, import VAT will be due and once the value of the gift reaches £135, customs duty will also be payable. You could also get charged a “handling fee” (see tip 5 for more info).
  • If you are planning on sending a gift to someone based overseas, you should check guidance published by the relevant customs authority to check their specific rules and charges.

5.    Be aware of how and when you could be notified of charges.

  • Anyone needing to pay customs charges will be contacted by the courier company and asked to pay the charges before they can receive their goods. Alternatively, the seller may arrange to pay any charges upfront on your behalf, but you should check with the seller to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

6.    Check the guidance available to you.

  • To help shoppers navigate these changes, HMRC has produced diagrams outlining three fictional scenarios about buying goods from the EU and has published a simple guide on GOV.UK, which also contains essential information on how to dispute a charge, return unwanted goods and to get a refund on the charges paid.

7.    Check with the seller whether the goods originated in the EU and whether they qualify for a “zero tariff”.

  • Customs duty won’t be due on goods if they meet criteria set out in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and a “zero tariff” can be correctly applied.
  • The “Rules of Origin” requirements mean that even if your parcel is valued above £135, if the goods you are buying originate in – or have been sufficiently worked or processed within – the EU, the seller confirms this and the zero tariff is claimed on the customs declaration, you will not need to pay any customs duties although import VAT will still be due.
  • If customs duty is due, the rate – or the Tariff – for each item can be found within the trade tariff tool but it’s recommended you check with your seller to find out exactly what you will owe.

For more information on the changes as well as finding crucial information about how to return goods and get a refund on charges go to GOV.UK