UK households are being targeted by a new wave of scams involving fake Lidl adverts that lure shoppers with deals on coffee machines, electric bikes, and other high-value items. These adverts direct people to fraudulent websites completely unconnected to Lidl, putting customers at risk of losing their money.
Bank data reported by UK Finance reveals that approximately £53 million was lost to purchase scams in just the first half of 2025. This latest scam echoes a similar Lidl-related fraud from last year, where victims were tricked into buying mystery boxes, resulting in several unauthorized transactions totaling nearly £200.
The bogus adverts are primarily circulating on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where scammers use the Lidl logo to gain trust. An investigation by Which? traced one such advert to a suspicious website that immediately raised red flags—it lacked any contact details, terms and conditions, and claimed an address that turned out to be an empty car park.
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All identified adverts have been reported to Meta and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Lidl has confirmed that it has no connection to these scams, and Meta is actively investigating the matter.
Consumers are urged to remain vigilant, especially on social media, and to avoid clicking on suspicious links related to branded offers. Protecting personal and financial information is essential as scams continue to evolve.