Scams and fraud are coming to town

Beware common traps at Christmas

Island consumers are 'all too often' targeted by fraudsters in the run-up to Christmas, according to the Office of Fair Trading.

The authority has issued a list of tips to avoid common online shopping pitfalls.

It's thought the British public lost almost £16 million to fraud last Christmas.

Fake clones of sought-after branded goods, bogus websites, and sellers stealing your identity are among the main scams to avoid.

Anyone concerned about fraud is encouraged to contact the OFT on 686500.