SCAM-busting officers and staff from West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit will be on hand at a Bradford shopping centre tomorrow (November 21) offering help and advice ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The force’s fraud experts will be at The Broadway in Bradford and at other shopping centres in Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield.

Black Friday (this Friday, November 24) and Cyber Monday (next Monday, November 27) are popular times for people to get the ball rolling with their Christmas shopping or to grab a bargain at a time when many traders offer special offers and significant discounts.

But it is also a period when people are more exposed to the risk of falling victim to frauds and scams, especially on the internet.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Townley of West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: “From cold telephone calls, fake payment email confirmations or false online stores who advertise on social media, there are a wide range of ways people in West Yorkshire can become vulnerable to falling victim to fraud. And there’s no doubt that this time of year increases that vulnerability.”

“Officers and staff from Economic Crime Unit will be at shopping centres across the county where we have stalls providing information packs relating to the ways fraudsters will attempt to con you, whether it’s through online shopping or other means.”

Come and meet the team at the following locations tomorrow between 11am and 3pm tomorrow: Broadway - Bradford, Woolshops - Halifax, Kingsgate - Huddersfield, Trinity - Leeds and Trinity Walk - Wakefield.