Partner Article

Don’t let online scams dampen your Christmas cheer

The sound of tills ringing has never been sweeter… with Christmas just around the corner the shopping frenzy is well under way. Over 60 per cent of customers now prefer to do their Christmas shopping online, from the comfort of their sofa but while online shoppers are safeguarded from the hustle and bustle of the high street, they are prime targets for festive online scams.

Many people are oblivious to the cruel tactics cybercriminals employ to trick the unsuspecting shopper around Christmas which means careful consideration before clicking the buy button. The following top tips must be remembered to stay safe online when doing last minute online shopping:

Contact details

Be sure to look at the page’s imprint. The full company address and a person in charge must be listed there. Be wary of shops that only have a postal address or are based abroad.

Cheap copies

If branded products such as expensive designer shoes are suddenly half price – it’s better to steer clear, they could be cheap copies. If an offer seems too good to be true, often that means it is!

Customer feedback

Good reviews by other customers are a clear mark of confidence for a shop. A trustmark from a recognised third party can help to separate the wheat from the chaff and give you peace of mind about the validity of a retailer you are about to hand over your hard-earned cash to.

EU Laws

Fairy lights convey a wonderful Christmas mood. Whilst it is tempting to opt for cheap ones that come from Asia, beware: such imports are not always technically safe. Any complaints will fall on deaf ears because Asia is not covered by EU laws.

Payment methods

Keep your eyes peeled when it comes to the payment method. If a shop only offers advanced payments, alarm bells should be ringing. After all, you cannot reverse a bank transfer. To be safe, opt for secure payment methods such as direct debit, invoice, credit card or a third party guarantee.

Phishing emails

With consumers going into a frenzy over Christmas deals, shoppers are bound to be bombarded with emails containing purchase confirmation and shipping details. Be diligent when trawling through your inbox. Never disclose any confidential information over email and avoid clicking on links unless you are sure they have come from trusted sources. Cybercriminals are getting very good at copying legitimate emails so it is easy to be fooled.

Passwords

Most online retailers require you to make an account to make a purchase. Make sure to use unique passwords for each and every online retailer. If a cybercriminal gets hold of one password they will try it on every site – anything to get hold of your payment details! Try to avoid entering passwords on public computers and never send passwords by e-mail or if requested to do so by e-mail.

Delivery options

If a retailer states a specific delivery time, it is legally bound to stick to the agreed time and date. If the item does not make it to you in time, the customer may claim compensation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Naveen Aricatt .