Urgent warning to Facebook users over Jo Malone advent calendar scam – here’s how to make sure you’re not duped
- Seven scam ads found promoting Jo Malone’s £350 advent calendar for £30
- Here are the key signs they are fake, and how to report them if you see them
The saying goes that if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
And that’s certainly the case with the latest scam circulating on Facebook this month.
Seven scam ads have been discovered by Which? on the platform, promoting Jo Malone’s £350 advent calendar for just £30.
Worryingly, some of these adverts lead to malicious websites that can steal your personal details.
Here are the key signs that these adverts are fake, and how to report them if you see them.
Seven scam ads have been discovered by Which? on the platform, promoting Jo Malone’s £350 advent calendar for just £30
The 7 scam sites to look out for
Every year, Jo Malone releases a luxury advent calendar, stocked full of lotions, perfumes, toiletries, candles and more.
This year’s offering went on sale at the end of September, and somewhat unsurprisingly, scammers were quick to imitate the product.
So far, Which? has discovered seven scam adverts across Facebook, claiming to sell the advent calendar for just £30.
If you click on the advert, you’ll be taken to a website featuring a lengthy product description, and led to a payment page asking for your name, address, email address, phone number and card details.
The scam sites also include a countdown timer for the offer, and list the number of advent calendars in stock.
According to Which?, these are typical tactics used to make shoppers feel under pressure to buy, stopping them from taking the time to check the offer is legitimate.
However, upon closer inspection you might notice some bad spelling and grammar mistakes – key signs that the websites are fake.
The scam sites include a countdown timer for the offer, and list the number of advent calendars in stock
To report a scam ad on Facebook, select the three dots on the right-hand side of the page and press ‘report’
READ MORE: The suspicious Facebook ad that’s too good to be true… and could leave you penniless
The seven scam sites to look out for are: vruleil.comm, wcostisticmi.com, dpreventiblemi.com, lcusby.com, xmyzeoustl.com, oteachencebp.com, and scinerianmi.com.
Lisa Webb, Which? Consumer Law Expert, said: ‘People shopping for popular Christmas advent calendars should look out for any high-end or in-demand items being sold at low prices.
‘If you are in any doubt that an online deal is genuine, don’t click on any links in the post or give any personal information.
‘Lookout for telltale signs of a scam – like bad spelling and grammar – and check the seller’s name or website to see if it’s the official brand page.
‘If you or a loved one do fall victim to a scam then contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud or Police Scotland.
‘To report a scam ad on Facebook, select the three dots on the right-hand side of the page and press “report.” ‘
Which? also shared the findings with Jo Malone, which confirmed ‘the only way to ensure that the products consumers purchase are authentic and safe is to purchase only from our authorised online or in-store retailers or directly from Jo Malone London.’
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