Lanarkshire shoppers urged to be wary of scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Lanarkshire shoppers have been urged to be on their guard against scams as Amazon Prime Day approaches.Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice.scot, has encouraged consumers to stay safe while shopping online and remain cautious of fake deals presented through phishing emails, texts, and calls.With just one week to go until the shopping event, the charity warned that fraudsters are using new tactics to target Lanarkshire locals seeking bargains during the cost-of-living crisis.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Advice Direct Scotland has also seen a surge in reports of bogus calls where scammers pose as banks, falsely claiming consumers have encountered issues with Amazon transactions in an attempt to steal sensitive details.Its advisers have recently handled a number of cases from across the country where people received calls from seemingly local telephone numbers claiming to be from a ‘bank security service’ or ‘Visa security’, mentioning payments related to the site.Similar calls, warning consumers of ‘suspicious’ transactions ranging from £300 to £1,300 on other international websites, have been reported in Aberdeen, the Borders, Edinburgh, Fife, the Highlands, North Ayrshire, and West Dunbartonshire.Hazel Knowles, senior project lead for Advice