Over £145,000 has been lost by unsuspecting victims who tried to buy e-scooters from scam websites, according to Action Fraud. The organisation is also warning of fraudsters operating via online marketplaces and social media platforms.

Run by the City of London Police alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.

While it remains illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters in public places, it is entirely legal to sell them. Many mainstream retailers stock the vehicles and some have called for them to be made road legal.

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Action Fraud has however identified a trend for scam websites that take payments from unwitting victims only to disappear from the web without shipping anything.

It says it received over 350 reports about such websites in 2021.

“Victims have reported buying e-scooters online only for the e-scooter to not be delivered,” said an Action Fraud spokesperson. “By this point, they’re unable to contact the company as the website they made the purchase from has been closed down by its owners.”

Action Fraud advice:

• When it's time to pay for your items, use a credit card if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases. You can also use online payment providers such as PayPal.
• If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a product listing, arrange to meet the seller in person to inspect the item yourself. We recommend that you meet during the day in a busy, public location like a coffee shop.
• Be cautious if a seller asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.
• If you have visited a website you think is trying to scam you, report it to the National Cyber Security Centre: Report a suspicious website - NCSC.GOV.UK
• If you've lost money to an online shopping scam, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland).