“Tis the season to save lolly!” - It may seem that there’s too much to go wrong in
cyberspace to bother shopping online; but fear not - with these 12 scam saves of Christmas you can enjoy the benefits for online shopping whilst avoiding scams too:
REMEMBER:
• If it’s too good to be true it usually is. Don’t fall for it!
• Always use reputable websites when shopping or searching online.
• Research a website or company as much as possible before buying goods from them.
• Create a different, strong password for each of your online accounts. A recommended method is to use 3 random words together. For extra security, set up two-factor authentication’ which means you get a code sent to your phone to use.
• Type in the website address (the ‘URL’) in full into Google or other search engines. Avoid clicking on a link in an email, text or post, as this may take you to the fraudster’s site instead.
• Pay securely - check the address bar at the top left of the screen to make sure that the website address begins “https”. The ‘S’ stands for secure. There should also be a closed padlock image in front of the ‘https’.
• Don’t be ‘click-happy’! NEVER rush in to making a purchase.
• Don’t pay for anything by transferring money directly to people or companies you don’t know. Use secure payment methods such as Paypal, ApplePay etc.
• When you’ve finished paying, make sure you log out of the page or app. Simply closing it may not log you out automatically.
• Check URL’s of emails to ensure they are genuine. Scam emails are usually littered with spelling and grammar mistakes.
• Avoid ‘free’ or ‘low-cost’ trials – whether slimming pills or the latest tech. Without thoroughly reading the small print and trusted reviews, you could be signing up for large monthly direct debits which are difficult to cancel.
• Check your bank account regularly for any unknown transactions.
If you have been a victim of an online scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
or at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
If you are having issues with something you have ordered online, call Citizens Advice on
0808 223 1133.
Always contact your bank immediately if you have transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours or you think your account details or PIN have been stolen.
Many Thanks
Pcso Penny Probin
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