In an innovative attempt to combat the surge in purchase scams during the festive season, NatWest has introduced the ‘Scamvent’ calendar, a clever twist on the traditional advent calendar aimed at educating consumers about the dangers of online shopping fraud.
This unique initiative comes at a time when purchase scams have reached a record high, with £85.9m lost last year alone, marking a 34% increase from previous figures. An astounding 92% of these scams originated online, highlighting the urgent need for increased consumer awareness.
The Scamvent calendar is not just any holiday countdown; it features 12 doors, behind each of which lies artisan chocolates that represent one of the 12 most common purchase scams, as reported by the bank and UK Finance. This limited-edition calendar will be available in selected NatWest branches, offering more than just sweet treats—it’s a learning tool designed to arm consumers with the knowledge to shop safely online.
The urgency of this campaign is backed by research commissioned by NatWest, which reveals that 41% of British adults are targeted more frequently by scammers during the holiday months of November and December. Moreover, the study found that 31% of adults feel anxious about falling victim to scams while buying gifts online, a worry not unfounded considering 92% of purchase scams are linked to online purchases.
Highlighting the types of purchases most at risk, the Scamvent calendar educates consumers on the signs to watch for when shopping for items such as smartphones, concert tickets, and gift cards online. The advent calendar initiative aims to increase vigilance among shoppers, with nearly half of British adults acknowledging heightened scam awareness during the festive period.
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