12 Scams Of Christmas.. And How To Avoid Them

Watch out for these acts of deception by heartless criminals who will happily rip you off in the season of goodwill

- Anna Burnside

Everyone is busy over the festive season. Unfortunately, this includes scammers and fraudsters who love to take advantage of our divided attention to part us from our hard-earned cash.

According to scam reporting website bogusbuster.org, fraud is the most committed crime in the UK, with almost 1000 scams recorded daily. It cost the UK £1.2billion in 2018.

Here are the 12 most common scams to watch out for this Christmas.

CHARITY

In among legitimate appeals there are also scammers posing as charities trying to rip you off. Be cautious if you receive suspicious emails or phone calls. Approach charities directly if you want to make a donation.

CARDS

Watch out for fraudulent e-cards sent via email. They might look lovely but if you click the link the malicious software will steal your sensitive information.