URGENT UPDATE: With Black Friday just around the corner, shoppers are being warned about a dangerous parcel scam that could cost them up to £700. Experts are urging consumers to stay vigilant as fraudsters ramp up their efforts to exploit the shopping frenzy.
Retail expert Jinesh Vohra, CEO of Sprive, has issued a critical warning, stating, “Black Friday marks the start of a busy period for fraudsters.” According to Action Fraud, shoppers lost a staggering £11.5 million to online scams last year between November and January, with victims suffering an average loss of £695 each.
Fraudulent tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Scammers often send counterfeit delivery messages claiming there is an issue with a parcel, luring unsuspecting victims into clicking links that request personal and banking information. Additionally, fake retail websites imitating well-known brands are on the rise.
“Always double-check the website address and look out for spelling errors or unusual logos,” cautions Vohra. “If you’ve clicked through from an advert or social media post, it’s safer to go directly to the retailer’s official website.”
Stuart Morris, chief technology and product officer at SmartSearch, emphasizes that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become peak fraud seasons. He warns, “For cybercriminals, this period offers the perfect storm: millions of consumers rushing to grab deals and businesses scrambling to process unprecedented volumes of transactions.” Last year, British shoppers spent over £9 billion during this shopping period, with transactions peaking at 400 per second.
Recent data from Auction Fraud indicates a worrying trend: shoppers lost more than £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024, an increase from £10.6 million the previous year. In just the first half of 2025, over 80,000 individuals fell victim to purchase scams. Furthermore, the average victim of an investment scam now loses a shocking £15,000.
“This isn’t crude hacking but sophisticated social engineering,” Morris explains. “Fake delivery texts, cloned websites, and ‘your order has shipped’ scams trick victims into handing over their details or paying for goods that never arrive.”
While banks are effective in preventing most unauthorized fraud, the greatest vulnerability lies with Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, where customers are deceived into sending money themselves. In these cases, over a third of victims lose their money permanently.
As Black Friday approaches, experts urge consumers to remain alert and safeguard their financial information. Verify the authenticity of messages, scrutinize website URLs, and be cautious of any unsolicited communication regarding parcel deliveries.
This is a developing story, and shoppers are advised to keep a close eye on their accounts and report any suspicious activity immediately. Remember to share this warning with friends and family to help protect them from potential scams this holiday season.
