Urgent warning to Facebook users over Jo Malone advent calendar scam – here’s how to make sure you’re not duped

The saying goes that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

That’s certainly the case with the latest scam spreading on Facebook this month.

Seven fraudulent ads discovered by What? On the platform, promoting Jo Malone’s £350 advent calendar for just £30.

Worryingly, some of these ads lead to malicious websites that can steal your personal data.

Here are the main signs that these ads are fake, and how to report them if you see them.

Every year, Jo Malone releases a luxurious advent calendar, filled with lotions, fragrances, toiletries, candles and more.

This year’s offering went on sale at the end of September, and it was somewhat unsurprising that scammers were quick to copy the product.

So far, which one? Seven fraudulent Facebook adverts have been discovered claiming to sell an advent calendar for just £30.

If you click on the ad, you will be taken to a website showing a lengthy description of the product, which will lead you to a payment page asking for your name, address, email address, phone number and card details.

Scam sites also include a countdown timer for the display, and list how many advent calendars they have in stock.

According to What?, these are typical tactics used to make shoppers feel under pressure to buy, preventing them from taking the time to verify the legitimacy of the offer.

However, upon closer inspection, you may notice some bad spelling and grammar errors – which are major signs that websites are fake.

The seven scam sites to look out for are: vruleil.comm, wcostisticmi.com, dpreventiblemi.com, lcusby.com, xmyzeoustl.com, oteachencebp.com, and scinerianmi.com.

Lisa Webb, which one? The consumer law expert said: “People shopping for popular Christmas calendars should look for any high-end or sought-after items being sold at low prices.

“If you have any doubt that an online transaction is genuine, do not click on any links in the post or provide any personal information.

“Look for signs of fraud — such as spelling and grammatical errors — and check the seller’s name or website to see if this is the brand’s official page.

“If you or a loved one have fallen victim to fraud, contact your bank immediately and report this to Action Fraud or Police Scotland.

To report a fraudulent ad on Facebook, select the three dots on the right side of the page and click “Report.” ‘

any? She also shared the findings with Jo Malone, which emphasized that “the only way to ensure that the products consumers buy are authentic and safe is to only buy from our authorized retailers online, in-store or directly from Jo Malone London.”