Shoppers are being warned to watch out for fake websites in the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas after Lloyds Bank revealed that customers have already claimed back around £2 million through card chargebacks. The bank said the money was returned to people who paid for items that never arrived, turned out to be cheap imitations or resulted in unwanted subscriptions.
Lloyds said more than 44,000 customers have raised a chargeback and received refunds. The bank added that it has seen a rise in websites claiming to sell popular festive items, including Labubu dolls, Jellycat toys and high-end advent calendars, as well as jewellery, perfume and electronics. Many of the sites appear on social media in ads that push shoppers to buy quickly before “deals” expire.
Scammers, Lloyds said, pretend to be legitimate retailers and heavily discount the most in-demand gifts before disappearing with people’s money.
The bank warned that once shoppers enter payment details, the goods may never arrive or could be poor-quality fakes.
The number of these so-called rogue merchants is rising quickly. Lloyds said the monthly average identified through customer disputes rose from 45 at the start of 2025 to 90 in the summer, and in October, 102 rogue merchants were spotted.
A chargeback allows a bank to request a refund from a retailer’s bank when something goes wrong with a card purchase.
Lloyds said customers should try to contact the seller first, and if they get no response, they can ask the bank to investigate.
Claims normally need to be made within 120 days of the transaction or expected delivery date.
For Visa card purchases, a claim can begin after 15 days, while Mastercard claims have a minimum 30-day wait.
The bank urged customers to raise concerns as soon as possible. Its mobile app allows people to start a chargeback request quickly, and every report helps payment platforms remove the fake sellers.
Liz Ziegler, the Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds Bank, 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 – particularly when you’re trying to stick to a budget and get everything done on time.
“Scammers know how to blend in on social media and the warning signs of a dodgy website or advert can be easy to miss.
“If you’ve been caught out paying for something that hasn’t arrived, or it’s not what you expected, don’t worry – you might be able to get your money back.
“It is usually possible to raise a chargeback using your bank’s mobile app – we can try to get your money back from these rogue sellers and you can get on with looking forward to the festivities.”
Lloyds also shared advice to help people avoid scams, including checking website addresses carefully, searching for shops directly rather than clicking on ads, and being cautious of big discounts.
The bank said shoppers should watch for hidden subscriptions and read independent reviews before buying.