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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning issued over ‘very convincing' web scams as shoppers conned out of £100s
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS have been warned to look out for "very convincing" web scams that are conning people out of hundreds of pounds. There has been a recent rise in criminals creating fake websites for well-known brands, experts say, and many scammers are using AI to help them. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Costco has recently seen a surge in fraudsters impersonating its website Credit: Getty Costco is one of the retailers that has recently been targeted by these criminals, with the wholesale business warning customers to be vigilant when shopping online. Dozens of reviews have appeared on Trustpilot in recent weeks from Costco shoppers who paid for orders but never received them, with some claiming to have bought items costing hundreds of pounds. Costco responded to several customers on the review site, writing: "We were unable to locate an order with the details provided and suspect that the purchase may have been made through a fraudulent website posing as Costco. "Unfortunately, there has been a recent increase in fraudulent websites impersonating Costco." In another Trustpilot response to a customer who had fallen for the scam, it urged shoppers to "check the URL which is displayed when shopping online". It added: "Our site displays at the beginning of the web address." Some Costco shoppers may have lost hundreds of pounds to the scam. In one review, a customer claims they bought a Bosch router table, which are on sale for up to £500 from some online retailers, but had not received it. Costco responded saying their order could not be found and it was likely bought through a fake website. Another customer said they ordered a keter Manor outdoor shed, which retails for over £200 on the high street, and were told by Costco they had likely been scammed. Avoid being ripped off by car hire companies with these four top tips It's not just Costco that has been targeted by fake websites - experts told The Sun that the scam is on the rise. 'Criminals are increasingly creating convincing looking websites that mimic well known retailer that lure shoppers in with seemingly genuine branding and tempting offers," said Jake Moore, global security adviser at ESET. "These sites often harvest lots of personal and payment information or take money without delivering goods." He said they're also becoming "incredibly easy to make" with the use of AI, as it means scammers no longer need to know how to code to create fake websites. "The end results are often near perfect copies too," he said. Starling Bank financial crime specialist Sarah Lenette adds: With the rise of AI, scammers have everything they need to create very convincing retail sites in very little time, which include all of the correct branding, products and relevant offers and deals." One common way you can end up on a fake website is by clicking on a fake ad on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok or Instagram. "Users then unknowingly find themselves on a site believing they are on the legitimate retailer," Jake says. It comes after a raft of fake Wilko websites offering huge discounts were set up by scammers after the retailer fell into administration in 2023. Cath Kidston and Joules have also been targeted by the scams. How to spot a fake website While scammers have become more sophisticated, there are several ways you can keep an eye out for fake websites when shopping online. Which? Consumer Expert Rob Lilley-Jones says you should avoid any deals that seem "too good to be true" - as they usually are. "Another tell-tale sign of a scam website will be poor spelling and bad grammar," he adds. Look out for any websites that don't have a physical address and a phone number and email address to contact them. "If they don't, it's a red flag," Rob says. He also suggests using a domain checker like to see when the website was set up. "If it's recent, and the company claims to be a well-known one like Costco, it's a scam," he says. Sarah Lenette adds that you should be wary of any URLs for UK retailers that end in .org or .net. You should also avoid clicking on social media ads that you're unsure about, she says. "Always search for the retailer on a search engine and head to them independently, as well as checking for independent reviews on sites such as TrustPilot," she says. Costco was contacted by The Sun but declined to comment. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Independent
14-02-2025
- The Independent
Is your Valentine actually a scam? Five red flags to watch out for
Love might be in the air for some this Valentine's Day. But today, online daters are being encouraged to be wary of potential scams. Nationwide Building Society research has found that two-fifths (41 per cent) of singles are looking for love this February. But 44 per cent say they would be willing to look past some odd behaviour and continue chatting with someone online if something seemed amiss. Sarah Lenette, a financial crime expert at Starling Bank, implored people to use their gut when talking to someone online - and always question their motives if they start asking about money. Lenette gave the following advice about keeping safe while online dating. 1. Are you being given excuses for why you can't meet in person or have a video call? 'If you have a genuine connection with someone, a logical next step is to meet either in person or on a video call, ideally in person so you can get a sense of their behaviour,' she says. 'Fraudsters will often provide reasons for why they can't video call, such as saying that they work abroad or are in the military, so you should always proceed with caution if someone tells you this.' It's also important to bear in mind that AI (artificial intelligence) can also be used by fraudsters – so don't believe everything you see. Lenette warns: 'If they do agree to do a video call, you need to be cautious of deepfake videos. 'These can be incredibly realistic, but you can potentially spot them by paying close attention to a person's body movements and facial expressions. If they don't look quite right, it's a sign to look for other unusual characteristics.' 2. Have they asked you to keep the relationship a secret? Secrecy could be a big red flag. Lenette explains: 'Although this can seem terribly romantic in the moment, it is a move intended to detach you from your real life. 'Discussing your new relationship with friends and family is an important way to keep them updated on your life, particularly as they can be a voice of reason. If someone asks you to keep your relationship a secret, always take a step back and ask why.' If you have suspicions, Lenette suggests taking the information in their profile and doing some sleuthing. She suggests: 'Aside from checking that they are on other social media platforms, you can do a reverse image search through platforms such as TinEye, which checks whether the profiles listed on 'their' profile link back to different individuals – if the pictures don't match up, question why this is.' She also suggests considering whether information about the person exists on websites other than social media. 'Does information about them come up in a search in several reliable places that aren't just social media sites, with info that matches what you're being told? For example, can you find any information about their job or place of work?' 4. Are you being 'love bombed'? This is a manipulative tactic that can be a red flag regardless of whether someone is a scammer or not, says Lenette. She says: 'Love bombing is when a match shows extreme interest in you through things like excessive flattery, overly communicating their feelings for you and being intense about your future together at too early a stage. 'They could also highlight how you are so different to anyone they've ever dated to make you feel special. 'Everyone has felt lonely from time to time, and this can be particularly common when you're looking for love – but this is when you can be most vulnerable to love bombing. 'First of all, be incredibly cautious if the person you're speaking to gets very serious very quickly. You don't actually know them that well so if you feel things are going alarmingly quick in the relationship, take a step back and suggest slowing things down.' She says alarm bells should also ring if someone tries to distance you from friends or family. 'This can be a common tactic among romance fraudsters, as this lowers the chances of you having anyone to speak to about their odd behaviour or requests for money, as well as making you more dependent on them,' says Lenette. 5. Are you being asked for money? 'If your potential partner is asking you to send them money, take a step back to think about the full picture,' says Lenette. 'Firstly, never send money to someone you haven't met in person. Meeting in person allows you to see that they actually are who they say they are, and you can get a sense for whether they are trustworthy or not.' She adds: 'Secondly, if your potential partner is pressuring you to make any money moves quickly, stop and think. 'This pressure could come in many forms and is often 'time sensitive'.' Romance scams can sometimes be combined with other scams, such as investment frauds, so a romance fraudster could claim to have a time-limited 'get rich quick' investment opportunity. Or they may claim they need money urgently for medical or legal bills. Lenette says: 'These should always be red flags, and are worth discussing with people outside the relationship. Someone who genuinely cares about your wellbeing would never have an issue with you taking your time or talking to a trusted friend or family member. Remember that if something seems like it's too good to be true, it probably is.' Checking the Financial Conduct Authority's ScamSmart page, speaking to friends and family, contacting your bank, or perhaps speaking to a regulated adviser before making any big financial decisions could help to prevent money going into the hands of scammers.
The Independent
14-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Is your ‘Valentine' a romance scam? A financial crime expert explains 5 red flags to watch out for
Love is in the air this month, but for some people, the 'perfect' online date they started chatting to on Valentine's Day may not be what they seem. According to recent research from Nationwide Building Society, two-fifths (41%) of singles are looking for love this February – but 44% would continue messaging someone they had met online even if something seemed off. Sarah Lenette, a financial crime specialist at Starling Bank, says gut instinct can be vital if something about a conversation doesn't feel quite right. She suggests asking yourself some key questions that could point to your online match not being the real deal: 1. Are you being given excuses for why you can't meet in person or have a video call? 'If you have a genuine connection with someone, a logical next step is to meet either in person or on a video call, ideally in person so you can get a sense of their behaviour,' she says. 'Fraudsters will often provide reasons for why they can't video call, such as saying that they work abroad or are in the military, so you should always proceed with caution if someone tells you this.' It's also important to bear in mind that AI (artificial intelligence) can also be used by fraudsters – so don't believe everything you see. Lenette warns: 'If they do agree to do a video call, you need to be cautious of deepfake videos. 'These can be incredibly realistic, but you can potentially spot them by paying close attention to a person's body movements and facial expressions. If they don't look quite right, it's a sign to look for other unusual characteristics.' 2. Have they asked you to keep the relationship a secret? Secrecy could be a big red flag. Lenette explains: 'Although this can seem terribly romantic in the moment, it is a move intended to detach you from your real life. Start investing with Trading 212. Capital at risk. 'Discussing your new relationship with friends and family is an important way to keep them updated on your life, particularly as they can be a voice of reason. If someone asks you to keep your relationship a secret, always take a step back and ask why.' 3. Does your date exist on other social media platforms? If you have suspicions, Lenette suggests taking the information in their profile and doing some sleuthing. She suggests: 'Aside from checking that they are on other social media platforms, you can do a reverse image search through platforms such as TinEye, which checks whether the profiles listed on 'their' profile link back to different individuals – if the pictures don't match up, question why this is.' She also suggests considering whether information about the person exists on websites other than social media. 'Does information about them come up in a search in several reliable places that aren't just social media sites, with info that matches what you're being told? For example, can you find any information about their job or place of work?' 4. Are you being 'love bombed'? This is a manipulative tactic that can be a red flag regardless of whether someone is a scammer or not, says Lenette. She says: 'Love bombing is when a match shows extreme interest in you through things like excessive flattery, overly communicating their feelings for you and being intense about your future together at too early a stage. 'They could also highlight how you are so different to anyone they've ever dated to make you feel special. 'Everyone has felt lonely from time to time, and this can be particularly common when you're looking for love – but this is when you can be most vulnerable to love bombing. 'First of all, be incredibly cautious if the person you're speaking to gets very serious very quickly. You don't actually know them that well so if you feel things are going alarmingly quick in the relationship, take a step back and suggest slowing things down.' She says alarm bells should also ring if someone tries to distance you from friends or family. 'This can be a common tactic among romance fraudsters, as this lowers the chances of you having anyone to speak to about their odd behaviour or requests for money, as well as making you more dependent on them,' says Lenette. 5. Are you being asked for money? 'If your potential partner is asking you to send them money, take a step back to think about the full picture,' says Lenette. 'Firstly, never send money to someone you haven't met in person. Meeting in person allows you to see that they actually are who they say they are, and you can get a sense for whether they are trustworthy or not.' She adds: 'Secondly, if your potential partner is pressuring you to make any money moves quickly, stop and think. 'This pressure could come in many forms and is often 'time sensitive'.' Romance scams can sometimes be combined with other scams, such as investment frauds, so a romance fraudster could claim to have a time-limited 'get rich quick' investment opportunity. Or they may claim they need money urgently for medical or legal bills. Lenette says: 'These should always be red flags, and are worth discussing with people outside the relationship. Someone who genuinely cares about your wellbeing would never have an issue with you taking your time or talking to a trusted friend or family member. Remember that if something seems like it's too good to be true, it probably is.' Checking the Financial Conduct Authority's ScamSmart page, speaking to friends and family, contacting your bank, or perhaps speaking to a regulated adviser before making any big financial decisions could help to prevent money going into the hands of scammers.
