Purchase and delivery scams
Purchase scams are when criminals trick you into willingly paying for something that usually does not exist. They will do this through the use of fake adverts, websites or profiles on an online marketplace such as TikTok Shop, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram or Gumtree.
A delivery scam is where scammers pretend to be a delivery company like Royal Mail, DPD or Evri to try and trick you into giving them your personal information.
UK Finance reported that £85.9 million was lost to purchase scams in 2023.
On this page:
Lower cost than usual
If the product or service advertised is very heavily discounted or a lot cheaper than you can find anywhere else, it could be a scam.
Unusual website or email address
If a deal seems too good to be true, check the email address it came from or the website address it is on.
Look closely and you might notice it is different to the company’s genuine website.
For example, 'confirmation@a1rbnb.com' instead of 'confirmation@airbnb.com'.
Seller asks for a bank transfer
Be suspicious of any seller asking you to pay by bank transfer instead of using your debit or credit card or the online platform's checkout.
No comments
If there are no comments posted under the picture of items being sold on at all, it could be a sign that negative reviews or warnings of a scam are being delete.
New website or profile with lots of reviews
It takes companies a while to build up reviews so if there is a new website or profile with many positive reviews, this is a sign that the seller is not genuine.
Step 1: Scammer sends a message about a fake delivery
You receive a message pretending to be from a delivery service like Royal Mail, DPD or Evri.
It says they’ve been unable to deliver a parcel (which you may or may not have actually been expecting).
These messages can look very real, but scammers will use this information to steal your money or try to scam you another way.
Step 2: The message includes a link they want you to open
They ask you to open a link in the message to rearrange the delivery.
The link takes you to a website which asks for detailed personal and financial information to rearrange the delivery.
No genuine organisation will ask for this kind of information to reorganise a parcel delivery. If you're ever unsure, use a company's official website and tracking services to double-check what's happening with your parcel delivery.
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Be aware of adverts and pop-ups
If an advert or pop-up opens up an external website, check it carefully to make sure it is from a genuine company.
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Avoid paying for goods by bank transfer
Genuine companies ask you to pay by debit or credit card or by using a secure online platform like PayPal.
Do not pay for goods or services by bank transfer unless you’re sure it’s a genuine request and do not pay for high-value goods upfront unless you’ve physically seen the item.
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Check that the communication you have received is from a genuine company
Make sure you check the email address or website address that you are on. Look out for different characters. If unsure, search for the company’s genuine email or web address and compare these carefully.
If a delivery company message is suspicious, go to their website and type in your tracking code to check if it matches up.
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Be cautious of unexpected contact
If you receive a message, email or call from someone you do not know or that is unexpected, be cautious. Make sure you never open suspicious links.
Learn more
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Take Five
Take Five offers straightforward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from fraud.
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Common fraud threats
Find out more about common fraud threats and how to avoid them.
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