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Police and council join forces to combat fraud ahead of Black Friday

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TAKE FIVE pop-up banner outside the Royal Liver Building. Image credit: Merseyside Police
TAKE FIVE pop-up banner outside the Royal Liver Building. Image credit: Merseyside Police

A police force and a local authority have joined forces to share guidance about protecting against various types of fraud, including online shopping scams and payment fraud.

Merseyside Police’s Economic Crime Team and Cyber Dependent Crime Unit, alongside colleagues from Liverpool City Council provided vital fraud prevention advice to members of the public on 21 November during an awareness session held at the Cunard Building in Liverpool.

With Black Friday approaching on 29 November, Detective Sergeant John Causton from the Economic Crime Team emphasised the importance of staying vigilant when searching for online bargains. He said: “We’re entering a period where fraudsters are particularly active, trying to exploit shoppers looking for deals.

“We’re urging everyone to take a moment to think before making any purchases online. If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.”

The session was organised in partnership with Liverpool City Council as part of International Fraud Awareness Week and focused on prevalent types of fraud that can affect anyone. One type, known as Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, occurs when criminals trick people into willingly transferring money to accounts they control. This has become increasingly more common and since 7 October 2024, new regulations have strengthened protection for victims of such frauds, but prevention remains crucial.

“We’re seeing criminals using increasingly sophisticated tactics to convince people to transfer money. They might pose as your bank, the police, or another trusted organisation. Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you to move money to a ‘safe account’ – this is always a scam.”

Detective Sergeant John Causton from Merseyside Police’s Economic Crime Team

The police and council teams also highlighted the risks of e-commerce fraud – particularly relevant as Black Friday approaches. Online shoppers were advised to:

  • Shop on secure websites, looking for the padlock symbol and ‘https’ in the web address
  • Use credit cards for online purchases where possible, as they offer additional protection
  • Be wary of sellers requesting payment through bank transfer instead of secure payment platforms

More information can be found on the Think Fraud website.

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