Police warning over fake and stolen goods this Christmas

North Wales Police are warning against buying stolen or fake good being offered for sale in the lead up to Christmas.

Officers are urging people to purchase with caution and if the price that is offered is too good to be true then it probably is.

It is a criminal offence for anyone to sell or offer to buy goods they know which have been stolen.

Before purchasing something online, we are asking you to stop and think before making a purchase. The most common types of online shopping fraud include:

• Purchase on social media marketplaces where criminals will ask for payment upfront before sending the item and then victims do not receive the item or its an empty box or something completely different to the purchased item.
• Purchases of high value goods on Instagram for example trainers or handbags which turn out to be fake once delivered.

Superintendent Jon Bowcott from North Wales Police said: “We understand that because of the rising cost of living, people are looking to try and get the most from their money and save where they can.

“Christmas is an expensive time of year, and we know that criminals’ will use this as an opportunity to exploit people and dupe them into parting with their hard-earned cash.

“We’re asking the community to stop and think when they buy something, especially at this time of year, if it isn’t from the retailer and it seems incredibly cheap, it may well have a background that you should be suspicious of and not purchase it.

“Make sure you know who and where you are buying from as some goods being offered for sale via social media or selling sites could be fake or stolen. Where possible, use a credit card when shopping online, this will offer you more protection if anything goes wrong.

“We want people to make the most of the deals that genuine retailers are offering but just be careful, it is easy to rush into making a purchase to try and grab a bargain as quickly as possible, but we want people to take a minute to stop and think before buying.

“Buying items which have been stolen ultimately encourages retail theft and costs to retailers, which only serves to increase prices of genuine goods in the shop.”

Further advice regarding shopping online is available via: Online shopping | North Wales Police