Merseyside Police host session to combat fraud ahead of Black Friday

Members of the public received vital fraud prevention advice yesterday (Thursday, 21 November) during an awareness session held at the Cunard Building in Liverpool.

Officers from Merseyside Police’s Economic Crime Team and Cyber Dependent Crime Unit, alongside colleagues from Liverpool City Council, shared guidance about protecting against various types of fraud, including online shopping scams and payment fraud.

With Black Friday approaching on 29 November, Detective Sergeant John Causton from the Merseyside Police 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.

Merseyside Police - Fraud prevention — Credit: Merseyside Police

Detective Sergeant Causton added:

“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.”

Councillor Ruth Bennett, Liverpool City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, said:

“We work year-round to raise awareness of fraud, and equip our staff and residents of the city with the tools they need to tackle it. However, this is particularly timely; fraudsters are relentless in their efforts to trick people in the run-up to Christmas, and anyone can be left with devastating consequences following a momentary lapse. People who attended yesterday got some really useful, practical advice to help protect themselves from some of the more prevalent types of fraud.”

The police and council team 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

For more advice on how to spot the tactics and techniques commonly used by fraudsters, to help reduce your risk of becoming a victim, visit the Stop! Think Fraud website.

If you suspect you have been the victim of fraud, visit Action Fraud for advice here and report it online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you have information about those committing any type of fraud or cybercrime, you can pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form here.