SHOPPERS looking to snap up an air fryer are being warned to look out for scams.
The devices are growing in popularity as people look to to cut cooking costs this winter.
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The company behind one popular air fryer brand has told shoppers to beware of scams around the device.
Ninja, which also makes blenders, grills and soup makers, said it was aware of fake websites pretending to flog the popular cooking gadget.
They promise the air fryer at a very cheap price – but they are criminals wanting to steal your cash.
After purchasing the item, it will never turn up leaving you out of pocket.
And they could even trick you into sharing your personal details and financial information that could be used to steal more cash.
The fake websites can be used as part of phishing campaigns, where criminals appear to be from legitimate companies, but are trying to get your details.
A spokesperson for Ninja said: “Following an unprecedented surge in demand for Ninja products, particularly our air fryers, we have become aware of a rise in fraudulent websites appearing to offer our products at greatly reduced prices.
“We would recommend any new or existing customers only purchase goods through the official Ninja website (ninjakitchen.co.uk) or via a reputable retail partner to ensure you receive our 5 star rated products as ordered.”
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If a price is too good to be true, it usually is, so beware jumping on a deal just because it’s cheap.
There’s also a risk that you end up buying fake goods that are not up to scratch.
For instance shoppers looking to save money on their energy bills have been warned not to buy “highly dangerous” devices online.
And Black Friday deal hunters were warned over copycat Dyson hair dryers and Apple plugs on sale on Amazon, eBay and Wish.
Martyn Allen, technical director of Electrical Safety First told The Sun: “It is vital shoppers remain as savvy as possible when buying electrical goods.
“Substandard or imitation electrical goods of any kind can pose a serious risk to you and your home as they may contain cheap poor quality components that don’t meet safety standards.
“Shoppers can keep themselves safe by buying directly from the manufacturer or a reputable high street retailer they know and trust.
“Always remember that if a bargain looks too good to be true it probably is.”
How to protect yourself online and spot shopping scams
Either buy direct or from a reputable shop and check reviews if you’re not familiar with an online shop, like Trust Pilot.
Using a credit card could help protect you if you buy something online and it never turns up or something goes wrong.
You are able to claim your money back if you paid by credit card under Section 75 of the Consumer Rights Act.
This applied to purchases of between £100 and £30,000 as well in order to be covered under the rule.
And using an online wallet like Paypal can help as you’re not sharing your card information directly.
You can often spot fake websites by grammatical and spelling errors as fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing proper English.
You also want to look at the URL for the ‘S’ where it says https, as this signals it’s a secure website. There’s usually a lock icon next to it too.
If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a freebie, consider whether it’s written in your friend’s normal style.
If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to your bank and to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its online fraud reporting tool.
