Bridlington Shoppers Urged to Stay Vigilant of Black Friday Scams

Wednesday 11th November 2026

By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor

Shoppers across Bridlington and the wider East Riding are being urged to stay on high alert for online fraudsters ahead of this year's Black Friday sales.

With thousands of residents expected to hunt for pre-Christmas bargains over the coming weeks, consumer experts and local enforcement teams are warning against convincing copycat websites, fake social media adverts, and bogus delivery texts.

It comes after recent crackdowns by East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Trading Standards team and Humberside Police in Bridlington, targeting counterfeit and unsafe goods sold both locally and online. Officers have reminded residents to be particularly cautious of heavily discounted electronics, cosmetics, and toys that fail to meet UK safety standards.

How to spot a Black Friday scam

• Deals that seem too good to be true: Purchase scams—where buyers pay for goods that never arrive—account for more than 70% of reported payment fraud in the UK. If an item is listed at a fraction of its usual price, it is likely a fake shop or counterfeit listing.
• High-pressure tactics: Scammers frequently use fake countdown timers or urgent warnings claiming "only two left in stock" to rush shoppers into buying before they have time to verify the seller.
• Unexpected delivery texts: Fraudsters send out bulk text messages and emails pretending to be couriers like Royal Mail or DPD, claiming you have missed a parcel or need to pay a small redelivery fee.

Simple steps to stay safe

• Check the web address: Always look closely at the URL in your browser for subtle spelling mistakes or unusual domain endings. Instead of clicking links in emails or social media ads, type the retailer's official website address directly into your browser.
• Pay by credit card: Where possible, pay using a credit card or a protected payment service rather than a direct bank transfer. Credit cards offer extra legal protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases over £100 if an item fails to arrive or turns out to be fake.
• Do your research: Before buying from an unfamiliar website or online marketplace seller, check independent customer reviews and seller feedback histories.
• Secure your accounts: Turn on two-step verification (2FA) for your email and shopping accounts so criminals cannot access them even if they guess your password.

How to report a scam in the East Riding

If you think you have handed over money or bank details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately—you can dial 159 to be connected directly to the fraud team at most major UK banks.

Residents in Bridlington can also report suspicious sellers, fake goods, or local scams to East Riding Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk, and scam text messages can be forwarded for free to 7726. Any financial losses should also be logged with Report Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting service, which replaced Action Fraud) online at reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.