Action Fraud said it received reports from 6,640 purchasers in 2023, with Hertfordshire police alone dealing with 99 incidents totalling £481,000 – meaning each consumer lost an average £4,861, the highest in the UK.
Now police fear Black Friday could spur an increase in scams. Oliver Shaw, City of London Police temporary commander for fraud and cybercrime, said: “This Black Friday, shoppers will be eager to snap up the best holiday deals and that means fraudsters will be targeting people looking for their next trip away.
