The Government's National Cyber Security Centre has released a list of tips on how to protect yourself from online shopping scams ahead of Black Friday and Christmas
Shoppers lost a combined £15.3m to online scams last Christmas, with an average loss of £1,000, data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau shows. Examples of scams include a shopper losing more than £150 trying to buy a phone on social media and another conned out of £7,000 as they attempted to buy a campervan online.
The National Cyber Security Centre - part of the Government's GCHQ security department - has launched a Cyber Aware campaign to advise shoppers on how to spot and avoid dodgy sellers.
Read more: Shoppers warned of Black Friday scams as bank sees customers lose over £1,000
Lindy Cameron, NCSC CEO, said: “Online shoppers will understandably be looking for bargains during the Black Friday and Christmas shopping period and we want them to do so safely.
“Sadly we know that criminals will look to exploit consumers at this time of year which is why good cyber security has such an important role to play.
“I would urge everyone to help us fight the scammers by following our Cyber Aware advice to set up two-step verification and use three random words passwords.”
Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud, said: “I urge shoppers to be cautious of where and who you’re buying from.
“Our figures show that most scams last year involved mobile phones and electronics, so always shop with official retailers and don’t be enticed by deals that seem too good to be true.
“Where possible, use a credit card when shopping online as this will offer you more protection if anything goes wrong.
“Follow our practical advice to enjoy shopping online safely and ensure you’re not targeted this Christmas, especially given the cost-of- living crisis we’re facing.”
How to protect yourself from online shopping scams
Action Fraud and the NCSC urge online shoppers to protect their accounts, check before they buy, and use secure payment methods.
- Protect your accounts: set up 2-step verification and use three random words passwords to prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to your shopping, bank or email accounts.
- Choose carefully where you shop: Research online retailers, particularly if you haven’t bought from them before, to check they’re legitimate. Read feedback from people or organisations that you trust, such as consumer websites.
- Pay securely: Use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases and are obliged to refund you in certain circumstances. Using a credit card (rather than a debit card) also means that if your payment details are stolen, your main bank account won’t be directly affected. Also consider using a payment platform, such as PayPal, Google or Apple Pay. And whenever you pay, look for the closed padlock in the web address bar – it means your connection is secure.
Almost half of the scams mentioned social media pages, so be wary of shopping on them. Of the 19,744 scams, 20% were related to electronics and 13% to smartphones. Vehicle selling fraud accounted for 8%
The data also revealed that 19 to 25-year-olds are the most likely to fall victim to online shopping scams. Males accounted for 47% of the victims and females 41%, with the remaining 12% not providing that information.
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