Business
Millions stung by scams with online shopping the top trap – Citizens Advice
More than seven million UK adults have been hit by a scam in the past year, with 20% of them significantly affected by the financial loss, Citizens Advice has found.
Another seven million adults knew of at least one other person who had been deceived by a scam, a survey for the charity suggests.
More than a quarter of those personally scammed were targeted while online shopping (26%), most commonly with fake websites and counterfeit or non-existent goods.
The findings prompted Citizens Advice to urge consumers to be cautious when taking advantage of shopping deals ahead of Black Friday and Christmas.
Of the 20% of those caught out by a scam who were significantly impacted by the financial loss they suffered, 12% said they fell into debt or had to borrow money, and 10% said they had to use emergency savings.
Some 20% were unable to carry out their work or caring responsibilities as a result of being scammed.
Almost a quarter (22%) transferred money after being pressured or convinced to, and 42% were contacted through social media.
Citizens Advice said those it had supported with online shopping scams in the past year included consumers who had forked out “hundreds of pounds” for items such as clothes, mobile phones and furniture, only to receive products that were counterfeit, not as advertised, unsafe – or nothing at all.
Many of those scammed reported that the company they bought from either took more money from their bank account, did not respond, or disappeared online altogether.
Other common scams included investment fraud (18%), such as “get rich quick” and cryptocurrency schemes, as well as fake loans.
Some 16% of those scammed fell for a friend or family member tricking them into believing they needed money urgently.
Another 14% were scammed into taking out a new mobile contract or paying for a new handset.
One woman helped by Citizens Advice, an 84-year-old from north-east England, was persuaded to pay around £40,000 in cash to scammers claiming to be from her bank’s fraud department.
She used her life savings, pension money and was pressured into borrowing from a friend.
Part of the cash came from Mary being duped into taking out a five year, monthly-repayable loan for £30,000.
The ordeal left her traumatised and she has since received treatment for depression from her GP.
She said: “The scammers said my identity had been stolen by internal bank staff and the issue had to be dealt with in absolute secrecy. It was pressure right from the beginning. They don’t give you time to think.
“Straight away I had to go to the bank, even though the nearest branch is 30 miles away. I had to send the cash in packets of thousands of pounds to four different addresses, they gave me explicit details on how to pack it up.
“They caught me at the most vulnerable I’d been for a long time. I thought I was doing my bank a favour by trying to unearth a mole in their staff. There was always this promise I would get the money back but the phone calls started easing off and of course the money never came.”
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Anyone can be scammed and the impact can be devastating, leaving people not only out of pocket but in some cases unable to go about their daily lives.
“It’s important to be alert. If you’re not sure about something, get advice. If you think someone might be trying to scam you, act straight away.”
Kate Dearden, minister for workers rights and consumer protections, said: “Too many of us know the devastating consequences of scams. As part of our Plan for Change, we have taken decisive action to improve transparency, including cracking down on subscription traps, and banning fake reviews and hidden fees once and for all.”
National Trading Standards chairman Lord Michael Bichard said: “We urge anyone who has been targeted by a scam to report it, however large or small the financial loss.
“By coming forward, people can receive the support they need and their information will be vital in helping to stop these criminals in their tracks.”
Citizens Advice warned consumers to be alert for scams if:
– Someone you do not know contacts you unexpectedly, or you are asked to transfer money quickly– You are being asked to share personal or security information like passwords, pins or codes– You suspect you are not dealing with a real company – for example there is no postal address– You have been asked to pay in an unusual way – paying by debit or credit card gives you extra protection if things go wrong– The golden rule is if something seems too good to be true or does not feel right it might be a scam, so take a moment and get advice
Citizens Advice offers advice online and a consumer service helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Scams or suspected scams should be reported to Action Fraud.
Savanta surveyed 2,222 UK adults between September 5-7.
Business
Fare relief move: Air India waives change, cancellation fees on domestic bookings after IndiGo disruption – The Times of India
Five days after widespread flight disruptions triggered by IndiGo cancellations, Tata Group-owned Air India on Saturday announced a special waiver on change and cancellation charges for eligible domestic bookings, aiming to offer relief to affected travellers, PTI reported.The airline said customers who booked tickets on Air India or its subsidiary Air India Express on or before December 4 for travel up to December 15 can make a one-time change or cancellation without paying the usual fee, provided the request is made by December 8, 2025. In case of rescheduling, any fare difference will still be applicable.
Under the waiver, passengers can either reschedule their journeys to a later date within the validity of the purchased ticket without paying rescheduling charges or cancel their bookings and receive a full refund, with no cancellation fee applied, the airline said.Air India also said it, along with Air India Express, has “proactively” capped economy-class airfares on non-stop domestic routes from December 4 to prevent price spikes driven by automated demand-supply algorithms. The carriers are also in the process of ensuring compliance with the latest directive issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry on airfare caps.
Business
IndiGo cancellations: How to track flight & refund status online; step-by-step guide – The Times of India
IndiGo flight cancellations latest news: IndiGo has said that it expects to operate more than 1500 flights by day’s end on Saturday, having restored over 95% of network connectivity by serving 135 out of 138 operational destinations. IndiGo typically operates 2300 flights daily. IndiGo has said that its personnel are working to normalise operations, minimise flight delays and assist passengers during this challenging period.IndiGo operated merely 700 flights on Friday, indicating 1,600 flight cancellations. IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged the extensive cancellations, confirming “over 1,000 flights” were cancelled on Friday.
The airline recorded the largest number of flight cancellations by an Indian carrier in the nation’s aviation history. Additionally, IndiGo’s on-time-performance plummeted to 3.7 per cent on Friday due to operational disruptions caused by the implementation of new pilot duty and rest period regulations, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry website.Starting November 1, the second phase of these regulations redefined night hours from 12am-6am, altered from the previous 12am-5am, and reduced permitted night landings from six to two. These changes affect all domestic airlines in India.The Gurugram-based carrier IndiGo, partly owned by Rahul Bhatia, has obtained temporary relief from DGCA, allowing them to revert to the previous night duty definition of 12am to 5am and permitting pilots to perform six night landings.“Addressing the recent disruptions in our network, we had cancelled a significant number of flights and operated little above 700 flights yesterday connecting 113 destinations. The main objective was to reboot the network, systems, and rosters so that we could start afresh today with a higher number of flights, improved stability, and there are some early signs of improvement. While we understand that we have a long way to go, we are committed to build back the trust of our customers….We apologise once again,” the airline said in a statement today.
How To Track IndiGo Flight Status ?
If you are planning to fly on an IndiGo flight over the next few days, it is important to check the flight status before heading to the airport. Here is a step-by-step guide to check IndiGo flight status:1. Go to goindigo.in/check-flight-status.html 2. Enter your PNR details and travel date, click on search flight to get the latest flight status
How To Track IndiGo Refund Status ?
The airline issued a statement confirming that it is handling all passenger refund requests with urgency.Here is a step-by-step guide how you can track your refund status on the IndiGo website:1. Go to goindigo.in/refund.html2. Enter PNR details — enter your PNR / booking reference number and your Email ID or last name.3. Click to view the “Refund Summary.” This will show you the current status of your refund — whether it’s still processing, completed, etc.According to the civil aviation ministry’s directive, all refunds for cancelled or disrupted flights must be processed by 8 pm on Sunday. The ministry has said, “Airlines have also been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations.”The ministry has directed IndiGo to establish dedicated units for passenger assistance and refund processing.The statement noted, “These cells have been tasked to proactively contact affected passengers and ensure that refunds and alternative travel arrangements are processed without the need for multiple follow-ups. The system of automatic refunds will remain active until operations stabilise completely.”Additionally, the ministry has mandated that the airline must locate and return any misplaced luggage resulting from flight cancellations or delays to passengers within 48 hours.
Airfares capped
The aviation ministry has issued a two-page directive implementing fare restrictions due to capacity limitations and unjustified price increases across various routes. The civil aviation ministry’s order clarifies that business class and UDAN flights are exempt from these fare restrictions.The directive lacks specificity regarding the application of these limits to economy class tickets exclusively or their extension to premium economy seats as well.The prescribed fare structure sets maximum limits of Rs 7,500 for flights covering distances up to 500 kilometres, Rs 12,000 for 500-1,000 kilometres, Rs 15,000 for 1,000-1,500 kilometres, and Rs 18,000 for flights exceeding 1,500 kilometres.For illustration, on the Delhi-Mumbai route spanning over 1,300 kilometres, economy class fares cannot exceed Rs 18,000.The ministry’s statement indicates these restrictions will remain effective until conditions normalise.These caps exclude additional costs such as User Development Fee (UDF), Passenger Service Fee (PSF), and air ticket taxes.
Business
Volkswagen capex recalibration: Automaker pares 2030 investment to $186 bn; China, US headwinds grow – The Times of India
Volkswagen Group plans to invest €160 billion ($186 billion) through 2030, a scaled-down outlay that reflects tightening capital allocation as Europe’s largest automaker grapples with mounting pressure in its two biggest markets — China and the United States, Reuters reported.The investment figure, announced by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume, is part of the company’s rolling five-year capital expenditure plan, which is updated annually. The latest commitment compares with €165 billion earmarked for 2025–2029 and €180 billion for 2024–2028, with 2024 marking the peak year for spending.Since that peak, the group — which houses brands such as Porsche and Audi — has been squeezed by higher costs and weaker margins, hit by US tariffs on imported vehicles and intensifying competition in China. The strain has been felt most acutely at Porsche, which derives nearly half of its sales from the US and China combined.Porsche recently unveiled a significant rollback of its electric vehicle strategy as profits came under pressure. Speaking to Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Blume said the focus of the latest investment plan was firmly “on Germany and Europe,” particularly in products, technology and infrastructure.Blume added that discussions on an extended savings programme at Porsche are expected to continue into 2026. He also said he does not expect Porsche to grow in China, though localising production across the wider Volkswagen group remains an option. A China-specific Porsche model could make sense at some point, he said.On Audi, Blume noted that any decision on building a manufacturing plant in the United States would depend on whether Washington offers substantial financial support.Blume, who will step down as Porsche CEO in January to concentrate fully on running Volkswagen Group, said his recent contract extension as Volkswagen chief executive until 2030 signalled continued backing from the Porsche and Piëch families as well as the German state of Lower Saxony, the company’s largest shareholders.“But it is true, of course, that shareholders have suffered losses since Porsche went public three years ago. I, too, must face up to this criticism,” he said.
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