Top tips for shoppers to stay safe when buying Black Friday deals.

Many shoppers are getting less than they have bargained for after these types of sales events, with many going to Trading Standards about fake or faulty goods that they have been sold online.

With this in mind, it is important to ‘stop before you shop’ and be wise to scams in disguise.

Here is some advice to help you stay cyber-safe:

• Use online retailers you know and trust. Lots of bogus websites appear at this time of year with many advertised on social media. Look at their reviews on independent websites and ask friends and family.

• Always use a secure form of payment to buy, for example PayPal. Never transfer money to someone’s account. If you use a credit card for purchases over £100, you will get extra consumer protection.

• Watch out for counterfeit goods which can be unsafe. They’re not always easy to spot but if it is very cheap and not in a place, you’d expect to see such products then don’t buy them. If it looks too good to be true, it is almost certainly will be!

Councillor Ian Cresswell, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Communities said: “How we shop has changed a lot over the years. Shopping from your homes as you look to find the best online bargains is something most people do, especially around this time of year. Some bargains, however, really are too good to be true. It’s really important you stay cyber safe and fully understand your rights as a consumer so you can protect yourselves if a purchase doesn’t go to plan.”

There are also a few things to remember if your purchase isn’t as originally planned.

• When you shop online, you have a 14-day cooling-off period to change your mind and return or cancel most goods or services purchased online from a UK or EU trader.

• You may have to pay to return unwanted items.

• If something you buy is faulty or was misdescribed, you have 30 days to return it and claim a refund. After 30 days, you must allow the retailer to repair or replace it first. These rights apply when buying online or in-store.

Visit the Trading Standards Website to brush up on your rights when buying goods and services.

To make a consumer complaint, or to get advice on your consumer rights, please contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service at 0808 223 1133.

For more online shopping and safety advice, please visit the Get Safe Online website.