With the serious online Christmas shopping period well and truly upon us, it is worth remembering a few sage points that will ensure you stay healthy, wealthy and wise this festive season.
We have published a list of the top twelve scams consumers should look out for in the lead up to Christmas. And what better way to present them than in the words of the world-famous festive song, The Twelve Days of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree

Counterfeit Christmas decorations, especially defective tree lights are responsible for thousands of hospital visits each year. Always check the safety information on any electrical product to ensure that they are BSI compliant.
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two turtle doves

Interestingly, if an item is described as fake turtle shell then it can be sold on the online marketplace - a rare instance where the fake is better than the real thing.
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me three French hens

A simple internet search using a famous luxury brand, preceded by the words "cheap", "discount" or "sale" will results in hundreds of websites that claim to be selling the real thing. Most of these organisations do not sell their products for 50% (or more) off retail price - that would devalue their brand. At best you would be buying a poor imitation, at worst you could be buying a product, such as fake wine or cheese that could cause damage to health as well as your wallet.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me four calling birds

Unfortunately, fake phones rarely work as they should and cheap components can lead to injury through battery fires.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me five gold rings

A simple check is to hold the jewellery to a magnet. Gold has no magnetic properties, whereas some of the cheap substitutes do.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me six geese-a-laying

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to know what harmful substances are in the shells so be careful where you lay out your cash.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me seven swans-a-swimming

However, it is legal to buy in the United States of America, meaning that some imports could make it into this country. However, without any way of verifying where the meat has actually come from, your "exotic" dish may be something completely different.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me eight maids-a-milking

Whilst few of these pose a risk to health, it does once again question the fact as to whether we really know what goes into our food.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me nine ladies dancing

A simple search online for "cheap" or "discount" along with a brand name will reveal hundreds of websites, all claiming to be selling the real deal. Many of these wont, as a large number of brands do not offer their products at sale prices unless it is through one of their own sales channels. We all want to remember those Christmas parties for the right reasons, not for being shown up wearing inferior items.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ten lords-a-leaping

Whilst that may seem the easy option, rather than trying your luck in the official ballot, how sure are you that come the day, the tickets you bought are actually genuine? The beauty for the ticketing websites in using "print at home" technology is that they no longer have to worry about distribution or postage. Only buy from official sources or those that offer a guarantee that if a problem does occur, they will compensate you. If you are unsure about a website, do a search on the Internet and see what others are saying about their reputation.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me eleven pipers piping

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me twelve drummers drumming

The Black Market information website, Havoscope, estimate the annual loss to the music industry due to piracy at $12.5bn. Not only will you be breaking the law if you download music from an unauthorised source, but you also risk infecting your computer with harmful malware. That's not a Christmas present you want to give to any one!
As such, whilst many retailers will slash their prices to attract bargain hunters in the run up to Christmas, consumers must remain wary of "too good to be true offers" for the must-have festive gifts. To avoid falling victim to the latest online scams, consumers need to remember that if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.