{"id":4984,"date":"2025-02-12T15:27:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T15:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/?p=4984"},"modified":"2025-02-13T10:11:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T10:11:07","slug":"6-common-valentines-day-scams-to-watch-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/6-common-valentines-day-scams-to-watch-out-for\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Common Valentine\u2019s Day Scams to Watch Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4984\" class=\"elementor elementor-4984\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6678fa46 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6678fa46\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1859a76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1859a76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8ca072 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f8ca072\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ddb563 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ddb563\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ah, Valentine\u2019s Day\u2014the season of love, chocolates, and\u2026 scams? Yep, that\u2019s right. While millions of people are busy planning romantic surprises, online scammers are setting up traps to take advantage of the holiday rush. From fake jewellery deals to dodgy online flower shops, Valentine\u2019s Day scams are more common than you\u2019d think.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So, how can you protect yourself and your wallet while finding the perfect gift? Let\u2019s go through some of the most common scams and how you can avoid them.<\/span><\/p><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4996 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/vals-scam1-758x1024.png\" alt=\"Infographic depicting 6 common Valentine's Day scams.\" width=\"758\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/vals-scam1-758x1024.png 758w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/vals-scam1-222x300.png 222w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/vals-scam1-768x1037.png 768w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/vals-scam1-1138x1536.png 1138w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/vals-scam1.png 1194w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p><h2><b>1. The Too-Good-To-Be-True Valentine\u2019s Deal<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We all love a good bargain, but if an online shop is selling luxury perfumes, designer jewellery, or expensive chocolates at unbelievably low prices, something isn\u2019t right. Scammers create fake websites or social media ads that offer massive discounts to lure people in. These fraudulent sellers often use high-pressure tactics, making you feel like you must act quickly before the deal disappears. However, these deals are nothing more than elaborate schemes to trick unsuspecting buyers. Falling for such scams could mean losing your money and your personal information to cybercriminals.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>How to Spot the Scam:<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scammers rely on deceptive websites and social media ads that appear professional but contain subtle red flags. Always scrutinise the details before making a purchase.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The website is full of spelling mistakes and poor-quality images.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It lacks proper contact details (no phone number or address).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The URL looks slightly &#8220;off&#8221;\u2014for example, instead of &#8220;luxurywatches.com&#8221;, it might be &#8220;luxurywatches-shop.net&#8221;.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They only accept bank transfers or cryptocurrency (no credit card or PayPal options).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>How to Stay Safe:<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid falling for these scams by verifying the legitimacy of online stores before making a purchase. Before you make any transactions, take a few minutes to follow these tips to avoid this common Valentine\u2019s Day scam:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Always check online reviews before buying from a new shop.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stick to well-known retailers or brands.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use a credit card or PayPal for extra payment protection.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><b>2. Fake Flower Delivery Services<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Flowers are one of the most popular gifts on Valentine\u2019s Day, which makes them a perfect target for scammers. Fake flower delivery services are one of the biggest Valentine\u2019s Day scams. Fraudsters capitalise on the rush of last-minute shoppers by creating convincing advertisements that promise fast delivery at heavily discounted rates. If a flower delivery website seems unfamiliar, take the time to confirm that it is legitimate before placing an order.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>How to Spot the Scam:<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These fake services mimic legitimate florists, but there are key warning signs to watch for before placing an order.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prices are ridiculously low compared to well-known florists.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The website is newly created (you can check this using Whois Lookup).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They ask for personal details that seem unnecessary, like your date of birth.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>How to Stay Safe:<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stick to trusted sources and take extra steps to confirm the legitimacy of an online florist. Doing a simple online search for customer reviews or complaints can prevent you from falling victim to these scams.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buy from trusted florists or big retailers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Call the company before placing an order to check if they exist.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Look for &#8220;https&#8221; in the website URL\u2014this means the site is secure.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><b>3. The Valentine\u2019s Day Romance Scam<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Valentine\u2019s Day romance scams are especially cruel. Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, pretending to be someone they\u2019re not. They build a connection, gain your trust, and then suddenly have a &#8220;financial emergency&#8221;\u2014maybe they need money for a medical bill, travel costs, or a business problem. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unfortunately, many people have lost large sums of money (<\/span><a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 400\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityoflondon.police.uk\/news\/city-of-london\/news\/2024\/june\/heavy-hearts-and-empty-wallets-more-than-94.7-million-lost-to-romance-fraud-in-the-last-year\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a394.7 million lost to romance scams<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0in 2023 alone) by trusting individuals who were never genuine.<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4985 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/man-shopping-online-buying-presents-for-valentine-2025-01-27-05-46-47-utc-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Man using laptop computer and credit card, ordering gifts for Valentines day, Womans Day, Christmas. Shopping online during holidays\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/man-shopping-online-buying-presents-for-valentine-2025-01-27-05-46-47-utc-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/man-shopping-online-buying-presents-for-valentine-2025-01-27-05-46-47-utc-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/man-shopping-online-buying-presents-for-valentine-2025-01-27-05-46-47-utc-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/man-shopping-online-buying-presents-for-valentine-2025-01-27-05-46-47-utc-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/man-shopping-online-buying-presents-for-valentine-2025-01-27-05-46-47-utc-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p><h3><b>How to Spot the Scam:<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These scams rely on emotional manipulation and a sense of urgency. Be cautious of these red flags:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The person moves very fast\u2014expressing deep feelings within days or weeks.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Their background details, job, or life events don\u2019t add up or change over time.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They always have an excuse for why they need money urgently.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>How to Stay Safe:<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Protect yourself by staying sceptical of online relationships that develop too quickly. Scammers often use stolen photos and create elaborate backstories to gain your trust.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Take the time to verify the person&#8217;s identity and claims of financial struggle.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid sending money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you haven\u2019t met in person.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Discuss your online relationship with someone you trust for a second opinion; it might help you put things in perspective.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>Planning to Meet Someone in Person?<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Valentine\u2019s Day is often a good opportunity to plan in-person dates with prospects you might have met online. Unfortunately, not all of those prospects will have good intentions for wanting to meet you. Here\u2019s what you should know:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid inviting anyone to your house. Plan the date at a public, crowded venue.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Give whatever contact information you have for the person to a trusted friend and share your location.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use public transportation to get to and from the venue. Avoid getting rides from strangers.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Recommended Reading:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Learn our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/7-essential-tips-for-valentines-day-safety-in-the-uk\/\">7 essential safety tips to ensure a fun and memorable Valentine&#8217;s Day<\/a> whether at home or outside<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>4. Catfishing Scams<\/b><\/h2><p>Catfishing scams involve fraudsters creating fake identities online to build deceptive relationships, often with the goal of manipulating victims into sending money or personal information. More than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessmanchester.co.uk\/2023\/12\/08\/the-catfishing-epidemic-over-20-of-brits-deceived-facing-emotional-and-financial-repercussions\/\">22% of Brits have reportedly experienced catfishing<\/a>, making this a prevalent scam you should be wary of. These scams are especially common around Valentine\u2019s Day when people are more likely to seek romantic connections. Scammers take advantage of emotions, loneliness, and trust to exploit victims financially and psychologically.\u00a0<\/p><h3><strong>How to Spot the Scam:<\/strong><\/h3><p>Catfishers often follow a predictable pattern to deceive their targets. Look out for these warning signs:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The person moves very fast\u2014expressing deep feelings within days or weeks.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They refuse to meet in person or video call.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They always have an excuse for why they need money urgently.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><strong>How to Stay Safe:<\/strong><\/h3><p>There are many ways to ensure you don&#8217;t fall victim to a catfishing scam. Here are some of them:<\/p><ul><li>Avoid privately meeting or sending money to anyone you don&#8217;t know in real life.<\/li><li>Reverse-image search any pictures they share to confirm their identity.<\/li><li>Be cautious if they seem too perfect\u2014real people have flaws!<\/li><\/ul><h2><b>5. Social Media Shopping Scams<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scammers run fake advertisements on social media platforms, promoting discounted Valentine\u2019s gifts, romantic getaways, or personalised items. These ads often link to fraudulent websites that look legitimate but either never deliver the product or send low-quality imitations. In some cases, victims also have their payment details stolen and used for unauthorised transactions.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>How to Spot the Scam<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scammers use misleading ads to trick people into making purchases. Be cautious of:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ads with prices that seem unrealistically low compared to similar products elsewhere.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ads or sponsored posts by very new accounts or accounts containing no contact details, return policy, or business history.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Advertisers with overly generic customer reviews or no reviews at all.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>How to Stay Safe<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking a few precautions can save you from falling victim to hundreds of pounds worth of Valentine\u2019s Day scams. Here\u2019s how to stay safe from fraudulent social media ads around Valentine\u2019s Day:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Look for reviews on independent websites and search the business name with words like \u201cscam\u201d or \u201cfraud.\u201d<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid ads by pages that were recently created or don\u2019t offer much detail.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pay with a credit or debit card for buyer protection rather than making direct bank transfers or gift card payments.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><b>6. Phishing Scams<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phishing scams are among the most common and dangerous Valentine\u2019s Day scams, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionfraud.police.uk\/campaign\/phishing#:~:text=Over%2032%20million%20phishing%20emails%20have%20been%20reported%20to%20the%20Suspicious%20Email%20Reporting%20Service%20(SERS)\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">over 32 million phishing emails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service in 2023. The goal of phishing is to make you visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, or steal bank details or other personal information.<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4986 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stressed-woman-gazes-at-laptop-upset-by-dwindling-2024-12-05-01-24-39-utc-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"A stressed woman gazes at her laptop screen, visibly upset by having been scammed online.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stressed-woman-gazes-at-laptop-upset-by-dwindling-2024-12-05-01-24-39-utc-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stressed-woman-gazes-at-laptop-upset-by-dwindling-2024-12-05-01-24-39-utc-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stressed-woman-gazes-at-laptop-upset-by-dwindling-2024-12-05-01-24-39-utc-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stressed-woman-gazes-at-laptop-upset-by-dwindling-2024-12-05-01-24-39-utc-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stressed-woman-gazes-at-laptop-upset-by-dwindling-2024-12-05-01-24-39-utc-2048x1368.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To accomplish this, cybercriminals use phishing emails and text messages to impersonate trusted companies, claiming to offer Valentine\u2019s discounts, free gift cards, or even e-cards from a \u201csecret admirer.\u201d Clicking on links in these messages can lead to fake websites designed to steal login credentials, personal information, or even install malware on your device.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>How to Spot the Scam<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phishing messages often try to create a sense of urgency or excitement to get you to act quickly. Look out for:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emails or texts from unknown senders claiming you&#8217;ve won a prize or received a surprise gift.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Messages with poor grammar, misspellings, or suspicious-looking links.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Messages with a lot of urgency\u2014e.g. &#8220;Act now! Your gift card expires in 2 hours!&#8221;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Requests for personal information or payment details through email.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><b>How to Stay Safe<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By staying vigilant, you can avoid giving scammers access to your personal data:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Never click links in suspicious emails\u2014visit the retailer\u2019s official website directly.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Look closely at email addresses for inconsistencies or misspellings.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Verify any deals being promised with the retailer\u2019s official website or social media.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Enable spam filters and multi-factor authentication to protect your accounts.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><b>Stay Informed and Protect Yourself<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting victims, especially around holidays like Valentine\u2019s Day. By staying informed and recognising the warning signs, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling prey to these schemes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more expert security tips, read other guides on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/\"><b>Safety Hub<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014your go-to platform for safety advice about navigating everyday life, different occasions, and events in the UK.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\/*! elementor &#8211; v3.21.0 &#8211; 26-05-2024 *\/ .elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(&#8211;spacer-size)}.e-con{&#8211;container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(&#8211;container-widget-width,var(&#8211;spacer-size));&#8211;align-self:var(&#8211;container-widget-align-self,initial);&#8211;flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer&gt;.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer&gt;.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(&#8211;container-widget-height,var(&#8211;spacer-size))}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px} Ah, Valentine\u2019s Day\u2014the season of love, chocolates, and\u2026 scams? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,32],"tags":[175,176,168,169,174,173],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2.jpg",1313,524,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-300x120.jpg",300,120,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-768x306.jpg",768,306,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-1024x409.jpg",1024,409,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2.jpg",1313,524,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2.jpg",1313,524,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Yuman Amir","author_link":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/author\/yuman-amir\/"},"uagb_comment_info":28,"uagb_excerpt":"\/*! elementor &#8211; v3.21.0 &#8211; 26-05-2024 *\/ .elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(&#8211;spacer-size)}.e-con{&#8211;container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(&#8211;container-widget-width,var(&#8211;spacer-size));&#8211;align-self:var(&#8211;container-widget-align-self,initial);&#8211;flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer&gt;.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer&gt;.elementor-widget-container&gt;.elementor-spacer&gt;.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(&#8211;container-widget-height,var(&#8211;spacer-size))}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con&gt;.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px} Ah, Valentine\u2019s Day\u2014the season of love, chocolates, and\u2026 scams? [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4984"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4984"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5009,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4984\/revisions\/5009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/safety-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}