As the holiday season approaches, shoppers are increasingly drawn to luxury advent calendars, which have expanded far beyond traditional chocolates and images. However, consumer advocacy group Which? is warning that this rising popularity also attracts online scammers eager to exploit unsuspecting buyers. With Black Friday just around the corner, vigilance is crucial.
Luxury advent calendars now feature an array of enticing products, from premium beauty items to gourmet foods and exquisite jewelry. Unfortunately, this surge in demand has opened the door for fraudsters offering deals that seem too good to be true.
Recently, Space NK, a well-known cosmetics retailer, cautioned its customers about misleading advertisements on social media platforms. These fake ads claimed to sell their £250 advent calendar for an astonishingly low price of £28.99. The company’s representative, Jini Sanassy, emphasized that such fraudulent websites are proliferating online and are actively misleading consumers.
Space NK has reported these issues to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and is working with legal teams to close down these deceptive sites.
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, noted that as luxury items gain popularity during the holidays, they also become prime targets for scams. Many shoppers seeking discounts may inadvertently fall victim to these schemes.
Webb highlighted that last year saw fake offers for a £350 advent calendar from Jo Malone being advertised at just £30. She urged consumers to exercise caution by closely examining website URLs and questioning any unusually low prices. “If the deal seems too good to be true, often it is,” she warned.
In addition, suspicious websites can be reported directly to the National Cyber Security Centre for further investigation.
As Black Friday approaches—a shopping event that has expanded beyond its original one-day sale in November—retailers are expected to ramp up promotions throughout the month. This increased competition makes it imperative for consumers to remain alert against potential scams that could turn their holiday cheer into disappointment.
Shoppers should take proactive steps to ensure their safety online this season by researching retailers thoroughly and remaining skeptical of offers that seem excessively discounted. With awareness and caution, consumers can enjoy their holiday shopping without falling prey to fraud.
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