Police have issued a warning to residents ahead of the Black Friday sales.

Whilst the discounts might be appealing to savvy shoppers, West Mercia Police are asking people to stay vigilant against scams.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “Beware that criminals target online shoppers with fake websites trying to trick people into buying goods or services that never materialise.”

Police urge shoppers to use stop, challenge and protect to reduce their risk of falling victim to fraud.

Residents should take a moment to stop and think before parting with their money and be suspicious about any deals that sound too good to be true.

People should also be cautious about purchases that require bank transfers rather than a secure online payment method.