12 costly Christmas catches to avoid 2 Royal Mail first class According to Royal Mail, hundreds of millions of Christmas cards are posted to family and friends over the festive season. Many will be tempted by a quicker delivery, but with first class stamps costing 60pc and second class stamps 50p, you save £10 for every 100 cards sent. Crucially, and perhaps surprisingly, second class has a better delivery record over Christmas. According to Consumer Focus, just 55pc of items sent first class arrived the next day over Christmas last year, while more than 90pc of items sent using second class arrived within their three-day deadline. 3 Fake websites If you plan to do your Christmas shopping online, make sure the website is genuine. Often shoppers are lured to a fake site though the fraudster copying a familiar brand name - but the goods turn out to be faulty or never arrive. Fake websites also make consumers more vulnerable to fraud - last Christmas, 41pc of reported online shopping fraud related to bogus websites. It helps to type out the address rather than using a link. The web address at the point of payment should begin with https:// - the ""s"" stands for ""secure"." Also check for a contact number and office address on the site. 4 Extended warranties Once you've found the perfect gift, you'll want to make sure it's covered against damage - so it's easy to be tempted by an extended warranty on electrical items. But most goods already come with a 12-month manufacturer's guarantee, which some retailers will top up to provide up to five years" total cover included in the price. Your gift will also be covered by the Sale of Goods Act, which states shops must replace faulty goods. As long as you can prove a fault, you are legally allowed to return goods up to six years after you buy them. 5 Gift cards The gift card industry is expecting sales of £2billion this Christmas - but if a company goes bust, there is no guarantee a gift card or voucher will be accepted. Many shoppers can also be caught out by cards expiring before they remember to use them. If you are determined to buy a gift card, purchase one that can be used in a number of stores and be sure to check the small print and the expiry date. Otherwise, it could be safer and more convenient to stick with cash or a cheque. 6 Buying presents from abroad Sellers do not always tell customers about extra charges to send goods to the UK, such as import VAT and customs duty. Remember that gifts send by individuals from outside the EU can also attract VAT charges - but there is a cut-off value of £36, below which it isn't applicable. The Telegraph's consumer expert, Jessica Gorst-Williams, warns: "Some people may be tempted to seem overly generous and put a higher value on their gift than it is really worth - which could lead to unexpected charges for the recipient. Don't overvalue your gift. 7 Supermarket offers The temptation to splurge on Christmas food is hard to resist - and supermarkets know it. They will put treats and indulgence items firmly in the sight lines of shoppers, as well as pushing their premium lines to encourage consumers to spend more by upgrading. Neil Saunders, of retail analyst Conlumino, says retailers are likely to start offers on items like chocolate early, in the hope that people will buy them for Christmas but eat them too soon, thus having to return to shop again. "Volume is also driven by multi-buy deals on products like nuts, sweets and chocolates," he said. Consumers tend to overindulge at Christmas, so are encouraged to buy more than they might need with these deals. Try to stick to your shopping list, and only take advantage of special deals on items you were going to buy anyway. 8 Scam phone calls Sometimes a fraudster will call, posing as a retailer to confirm an online purchase. When you point out that you didn't buy the item, they will pretend your card has been compromised and suggest you call your bank immediately. But they will stay on the line, pretend to be your bank and trick you into revealing financial details. The Get Safe Online campaign advises people to use a different phone line to call their bank, or call someone you know first to make sure the line is properly disconnected. Never disclose your card details or other security information over the phone. 9 Fake goods Many counterfeit goods are sold at car boot sales, markets and fairs, as well as online. If something seems too good to be true, such as a Rolex watch on sale for £10, then it probably is. Don't be fooled into thinking you are getting a great deal. Always check the labels and warranties to make sure you are buying the genuine product, or check with the manufacturer for authorised sellers. If you are spending more than £100, it is worth paying by credit card, as then you are protected under the Consumer Credit Act if something goes wrong. 10 E-greetings Treat all unsolicited emails with caution and don't click on links or open attachments in emails you were not expecting. These could contain viruses or spyware or be a vehicle for online fraud. 11 Mobile apps The festive season can mean being confronted with a raft of official-looking mobile apps designed to help with your shopping - but these could be designed to steal personal information and then charge purchases to your account, according to the internet software firm McAfee. Check the app's comments section and confirm its legitimacy with the companies said to be involved before downloading. 12 Debt trap It is easy to fall into debt at Christmas - by putting too much money on credit cards, going into your overdraft or even taking out a payday loan. If you have to borrow, use authorised borrowing from your bank; or use a credit card, but be sure to repay the debt in full at the end of the month.