Lloyd’s Bank warns Brits who face losing over £600 with online shopping scams

Lloyd's Bank issued an urgent warning to customers who risk losing over £600 to scammers.

The bank told customers to look out for big warning signs before getting conned out of money when online shopping.

It said an average amount of people lose to these types of scams is around £642.

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Lloyd's revealed a number of top tips for avoiding a case of fraud.

Firstly, people should always use a debit or credit card.

Low prices and great deals can hide scams so make sure you find it somewhere else first.

Make sure a seller or website is genuine.

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: "Online shopping scams come in all shapes and sizes, but the vast majority start with items advertised on social media, where it's too easy for fraudsters to use fake profiles and advertise goods that simply don't exist.

"The safest way to pay for things online is always by debit or credit card, and buy from a trusted retailer.

"Remember that if a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is."

You can spot scams in many ways with the Metropolitan Police website sharing advice on protecting yourself.

It's worth researching what a fair and competitive price is before falling victim to a fake deal.

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Fraudsters often use stock images or other people's photos on multiple adverts or websites.

Make sure you're making payments on a "secure site".

Generally the website should begin with "https://" as the "s" stands for secure.

If you've become a victim of a scam, Citizens Advice shared a number of steps to follow.

  • Protect yourself from further risks
  • Check if you can get your money back
  • Report the scam

However if you've transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours you should tell the police by calling 101.

If you feel threatened or in danger call 999.

You might be able to get the money back but the process depends on how you made the payment.

For PayPal purchases, your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money.

If it's been paid by credit card, you might be able to get it under the Consumer Credit Act, this is known as a Section 75 claim.

However, if you've paid by bank transfer or direct debit contact your bank immediately to let them know what has happened and ask to get a refund.

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