Thousands of Lincolnshire residents are now busy hunting for Christmas bargains, with many also looking further ahead to the New Year sales.

But it pays to be cautious, and Lincolnshire Trading Standards are issuing a warning ahead of the annual Christmas spending spree.

It pays to be cautious when shopping online

“When the demand for bargains increases, there’s always someone ready to part unsuspecting shoppers from their hard-earned cash,” said senior trading standards officer Dee Stockley.

“It’s very important at this time of year that people are forewarned and receive the right advice to help avoid being ripped off.

“Most toys sold in the UK and Europe are very safe because of laws regulating their manufacture.

Be vigilant

However, cheap illegal imports are sold widely on the internet and social media shopping sites. “Christmas is an exciting time when many of us try to find gifts our loved ones will cherish, while not putting too much strain on our bank accounts.

“Shopping online can be very convenient but people need to be careful of what they’re buying and who they’re buying from.
“Fraudsters are always trying to find a way to con unsuspecting people.

Please be extra vigilant, and remember – if something seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.”

Top tips for Christmas

• Beware of “pop-up” shops selling discount goods – they probably won’t be there after Christmas if anything is wrong
  with the item.
• Using a credit card for goods costing £100 or more may provide protection through your card company if there are problems with your purchase.
• Consumer rights remain with the person buying the present, not the one receiving it. If anything is wrong with a gift, you may have to get in touch with whoever bought it for you.
• Goods ordered online or over the telephone can be returned within 14 days. Some retailers will extend this over the
  festive period.
• Goods bought in a shop cannot be returned unless they’re faulty or the store offers a goodwill returns policy.
• Look for the CE mark and manufacturer contact details on toys or electrical goods, indicating they’ve been safety tested.
• Beware of counterfeit goods – they may be cheaper but won’t be the same quality as the original and may even be unsafe.
• Beware of cheap toys which may contain button batteries. These can be deadly if swallowed by a child or a pet.
  For more information, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards