Online scammers are cashing in on shoppers looking for Black Friday deals by flogging fake designer goods that turn out to be cheap tat, Westminster Council has warned.
Bargain hunters looking for deals are being lured to slick websites claiming to sell top brands based from prestigious London addresses but many are just digital shopfronts run from overseas.
One unlucky customer snapped up what they thought was a £55 Ralph Lauren shirt from a golf shop based in Great Portland Street. The package arrived looking real, but the shirt inside was a fake.
The store did not actually exist, and the scammers had "cybersquatted" the address, tricking shoppers into thinking they were buying from a real London store.
Baffled tenants at the genuine address have been bombarded with unwanted parcels, angry letters and aggrieved consumers knocking at their door.
Dodgy dealers are also producing bargain-basement New Balance trainers and Formula 1 gear.
But when furious buyers try to return the fakes, they’re told to post them to China or the US at their own cost. In some case the postage cost is nearly as much as the goods purchased.
Westminster’s Trading Standards team say they’re working with national e-crime officials to shut down scam websites, but many are hosted overseas making them more difficult to tackle.
UK law gives shoppers cooling-off rights and protects them from paying to return faulty gear but enforcing those rights against foreign scammers is tough.
Aicha Less, deputy leader of Westminster City Council who is responsible for consumer protection, said: "Black Friday is now a something of a shopping institution, but unfortunately there are no shortage of unscrupulous traders looking to take advantage of that with online bargains that turn out to be anything but.
"The old maxim of buyer beware is the best advice to follow on Black Friday. While everyone like a shiny bargain, all that glitters is not gold."
Black Friday shopping advice from Westminster Council
If looking for specific branded goods, it’s best to buy from official retail outlets
Check who is selling the goods – are ownership details displayed. Verify they exist such as checking Companies House records
Check the address, for example use the Royal Mail postcode checker service
Check for customer reviews such as Trustpilot but be wary of fake 5 star positive reviews
Check the traders returns policy for unwanted goods – who is responsible for the cost and is the returns address in the UK?
Pay using a credit card, particularly if the purchase is over £100, for added protection
Contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service if you want advice about your shopping rights 0808 223 1133 citizensadvice.org.uk
