Lloyds Banking Group customers have claimed approximately £2 million in card chargebacks between January and September this year, according to the bank's data. The average transaction was £35, with common issues including purchases failing to arrive, poor-quality imitations, and unauthorised subscriptions.
A chargeback is a form of card payment protection that can help shoppers recover their money when something goes wrong. With Black Friday approaching on November 28, spending is expected to rise, and Lloyds warns that scammers will target in-demand items such as Labubu dolls, Jellycat toys, high-end advent calendars, and evergreen products like jewellery, perfume, and gadgets.
Fraudsters often set up websites purporting to sell popular goods at heavy discounts, using pressure-selling tactics and social media adverts. After payment, items either never arrive or are cheap fakes. Lloyds advises customers to request chargebacks through its mobile app, while credit card users may also claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: “Everyone is busy hunting for the perfect Christmas gifts and, with so many deals, offers and choices popping up online, it is easy to feel overwhelmed... Scammers know how to blend in on social media and the warning signs of a dodgy website or advert can be easy to miss.” She offered tips including checking website addresses, being cautious with ads, avoiding deals that seem too good to be true, watching for hidden subscriptions, and reporting suspicious activity to the bank immediately.
