Christmas is approaching and one of the UK's leading cybersecurity agencies (NCSC) is advising citizens to be careful with their online shopping, as over £11.5 million ($14.5 million) was lost to scams last year.
Figures from the NCSC and Action Fraud showed that fraudsters took an average of £695 from each victim between November 2023 and January 2024.
The authorities received over 7,000 reports of scams related to online shopping. According to the report, people aged 30-39 submitted the highest number of reports last year (23%). They were followed by shoppers aged 40-49 (20%).
Fraudsters use various tools and tactics. They advertise items (often non-existent) at very low prices, imitate legitimate online stores, send phishing emails and messages, display fake ads on social media, etc.
See also: Online shopping: How to identify fake stores?
“With Action Fraud data revealing thousands of reports of online shopping scams during last year’s festive season, we’re urging people to shop safely online – especially if you’re buying via social media,” said Adam Mercer, deputy head of Action Fraud.
«Never feel pressured to buy anything online – the creation of a false sense of urgency is a telltale sign of fraud. Avoid bank transfers if you can and use a credit card, as it can offer more protection in case something goes wrong».
The NCSC released the figures today as it launched a new awareness designed to highlight the importance of authentication two-factor (2FA).
Guide to safe online shopping
1. Always place orders from a secure connection
Use a device with antivirus software and use a secure connection – make sure your computer's firewall is enabled
2. Shop from sites you know are reliable
If you already know the store, your purchases will be reasonably safe. If you don't know the store, do an online check to see if the store has a presence and check reviews from other users.
See also: Online shopping: The best apps for price comparison
3. Check if the website is secure
Before entering personal or credit card information on an online shopping website, look to see if the address on the page starts with “https:” and not “http:”
4. Avoid offers that seem “too good to be true”“
Any online store that promises something good at a very low price is suspicious. If the price is very low, then most likely, the product is not genuine or may not work properly or even worse it may be a complete scam and you may never receive it.
5. Check the details requested by the store
When you make a purchase from an online store, you must provide some information, such as payment method, shipping address, phone number, etc. However, if the merchant asks for other information that is not related to the purchase, consider it suspicious.
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6. Use a credit card or PayPal
Do not use a debit card when shopping online, as it does not have protection in case a problem occurs. Shopping with a credit card is safer, as your bank account will not be at risk.
7. Check the shipping terms
Some merchants charge exorbitant shipping costs, which can turn your purchase into an expensive mistake.
See also: Advantage of online shopping: No one judges you for what you buy
8. Use a reliable internet security program
The best way to stay safe online is to use an effective security product. And that goes for online shopping too. Security features like real-time phishing protection and protection identity theft are more important than ever.
Source: www.infosecurity-magazine.com
