Trading Standards team offers in-person advice to help residents avoid Black Friday scams
Falkirk Council’s Trading Standards team will be in Falkirk town centre later this month offering free in-person advice to help people stay safe from scams in the run up to Black Friday (28 November 2025).
Black Friday is now one of the busiest shopping days of the year with many retailers offering large discounts online and in store in the run up to the Festive period.
Criminals can take advantage of the event by creating fake websites, sending phishing emails or posting false adverts on social media that are designed to steal money or personal information.
To help protect local residents, Trading Standards officers will hold drop-in sessions at three banks in Falkirk where people can get advice on how to spot and avoid scams.
Officers will be available to speak to shoppers at:
• Nationwide, High Street, Friday 14 November, 10:00 to 13:00
• Virgin Money, Bank Street, Thursday 20 November, 10:00 to 13:00
• RBS, Upper Newmarket Street, Friday 21 November, 10:00 to 13:00.
These sessions form part of an ongoing programme of scam awareness and consumer protection events delivered by Trading Standards throughout the council area over the year. Residents can visit any of the sessions to ask questions and find out more about staying safe online.
The Trading Standards team will be on hand and explain to consumers how to shop safely including:
• Checking that websites and online shops are legitimate before buying
• Using a credit card or secure payment system for extra protection
• Avoiding suspicious links in emails, texts or social media posts
• Never paying by bank transfer for online purchases
• Using strong passwords and two step verification for online accounts.
Councillor Stacey Devine, spokesperson for Public Protection, said:
Black Friday can be a great opportunity to save money, but it is also a time when criminals try to exploit people looking for bargains.
“Our Trading Standards team will be on hand to give practical advice to help residents stay safe and confident when shopping online. Even small steps, like double checking a website or avoiding too good to be true offers, can make a big difference.
“Anyone who thinks they have fallen victim to a scam should contact their bank immediately and report it to Police Scotland on 101.
If you need more advice about unsafe goods, missing deliveries, faulty products, scams or contract issues, you can contact Advice Direct Scotland. They give free consumer advice on behalf of Falkirk Council and can help with a wide range of problems.
Further advice on online shopping safety is available from the National Cyber Security Centre website.