NatWest has launched an advent calendar as part of a campaign to warn the public of the dangers of purchase scams and provide advice on staying safe whilst shopping during the festive season.

The bank’s “scamvent” calendar, which will be available in limited numbers in selected branches, features 12 doors and chocolates representing one of the 12 most common purchase scams the public are likely to encounter.

Purchase scams involve fraudsters selling goods which do not exist at seemingly low prices.

These scams often take place on the internet or social media.

Phones are the most common type of purchase scam, accounting for 26 per cent, followed by tickets and online gift cards.

Research by NatWest shows that 41 per cent of British adults are approached by scammers during November and December.

Data from the bank and UK Finance shows purchase scams losses are now at their highest level since data collection began in 2020.

The bank said a record £85.9 million was stolen by criminals across 156,516 purchase scams last year, with 92 per cent of them originating online, a 34 per cent increase compared to 2022.

NatWest said that its research showed 31 per cent of adults are anxious that they will fall for a scam while shopping for presents, while a quarter of British adults have encountered an advert they believe to be a scam or a fake website while shopping for presents.

"We want the UK public to feel confident in taking action today to keep their money safe, so we're reminding everyone to watch out for purchase scams,” said Stuart Skinner, fraud expert from NatWest. “That could make all the difference between having a happy and safe experience, or you or your loved ones going through the heartache of losing money to criminals this season.”

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