Purchase scams surge in Northern Ireland as Bank of Ireland urges Christmas shoppers to stay alert

Allison Ewing, Fraud Manager, Education & Awareness at Bank of Ireland with Peter Corrie, Customer Advisor urging everyone to stay alert and be extra vigilant as purchase scams are on the rise.

Purchase scams are now the most common form of fraud reported in Northern Ireland, prompting Bank of Ireland to issue a renewed warning to consumers as Christmas shopping reaches its peak.

As households across Northern Ireland turn to online platforms in the final days before Christmas, the Bank has revealed that purchase scams now account for two in every three fraudulent incidents, with cases continuing to rise at pace.

According to Bank of Ireland, purchase scams — where fraudsters entice consumers into paying for goods or services that never arrive or are not as advertised — have increased by 27% over the past 18 months.

Alarmingly, 67% of all scams reported to the Bank now fall into this category, with a significant proportion originating on social media platforms.

Example fraud post appearing on social media

The warning comes as new research commissioned by the Bank highlights the scale of the problem for consumers in Northern Ireland.

The findings show that 87% of people believe fraud is a major issue in society today, underscoring growing public concern about online safety.

Younger consumers appear particularly exposed. In the past year alone, 48% of social media users aged 18–34 reported receiving fraudulent adverts, accounts or messages, while 39% said they had been targeted by scam messages on WhatsApp.

Despite this, confidence remains high — perhaps too high. While 69% of consumers believe they can recognise fraudulent content on social media, more than a quarter (26%) of users admit to falling victim to fraudulent social media adverts.

Beyond financial loss, the research reveals a strong emotional dimension to fraud fears, with concern often focused on loved ones rather than oneself.

Nearly half of 18–34 year olds (47%) said they are most worried about their grandparents being scammed, while 41% of those aged 35–54 are most concerned for their parents. Among those aged 55 and over, 40% said their greatest concern is for their children.

There is also strong public support for stronger protections. When asked about prevention measures, 87% of respondents said they would support an SMS scam filter, designed to block fraudulent messages before they reach consumers’ phones.

Allison Ewing, Fraud Manager, Education & Awareness at Bank of Ireland urging everyone to Stop, Think and Check before making a payment or sharing information as purchase scams are on the rise.

Allison Ewing, Fraud Manager, Education & Awareness at Bank of Ireland, said the findings highlight a growing gap between public expectations and the role of online platforms.

“As the results from our research show, fewer than a quarter of consumers trust social media companies to protect users from fraud - the public need and deserve for these companies to do more.  No company should profit from fraudulent activity.

“We continue to play our part in advocating for and protecting consumers from financial harm, reminding everyone to Stop, Think and Check before making a payment or sharing information, and I encourage anyone who thinks they may have been the victim of a scam to report it straight away to your bank – we’re here and ready to help.”

The Bank has also reassured customers that its dedicated fraud support team will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Christmas and New Year.

Customers who believe they may have been targeted can contact the team via the Freephone number 0800 121 7790, or by dialling 159, the secure short-code that connects callers directly with their bank.

With many families under financial pressure during the festive season, Bank of Ireland is urging shoppers to take extra care before making online purchases, particularly when deals appear on social media or messaging apps.

Further guidance on recognising and avoiding scams, including purchase fraud, is available on the Security and Fraud section of the Bank of Ireland UK website.