Black Friday shoppers warned scammers are using air fryers to commit fraud
Shoppers looking for a bargain air fryer Black Friday deal are being warned about the popular item being a target for scammers.
Air Fryers have blown up in popularity in the last 12 months due to shoppers looking for ways of cheap cooking methods during the cost of living crisis.
But the experts at NatWest bank are warning bargain hunters to be careful about the deals they are finding – and they also warned that the popular Xbox One X and S series could also be used to scam innocent shoppers.
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The warning comes after they estimated that £10 million will be stolen by nefarious fraudsters from Black Friday up until Christmas.
Stuart Skinner, fraud expert at NatWest, said: “Criminals are taking advantage of the cost of living crisis by advertising goods which don’t exist – customers trying to reduce their energy expenditure could find themselves being specifically targeted.
“Black Friday is a great time of year to pick up a bargain but unfortunately it is also exploited by criminals.
“If you’re being sold something at a knock-down price from a private seller on social media or a website you’re not familiar with, don’t do it.
“Your goods won’t turn up and you’ll be left out of pocket. If it’s an unusually good bargain for an item you know is worth a lot more, chances are it’s a scam.”
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The age demographic most likely to have their money stolen are those aged 25 to 35, closely followed by 18 to 25s and 35 to 45s. NatWest said this was reflective of these age groups shopping more online and feeling more confident in the purchases they are making.
To protect yourself from the scams, the bank advises against panic buying items and using websites you've never used before.
They also claim that scammers can “spend hours researching you for their scams”.
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