Christmas is a magical time shared with friends, family and good cheer. It’s also a time when people spend big, aiming
for that special gift and perfect spread. Make sure this is one to remember for the right reasons, with this advice to avoid scams.
How much do we spend?
The Bank of England reported in December 2020 that in the run up to Christmas our spending habits change. A typical household spends over £700 more in December compared to other months.
The way we shop has also changed with more of us enjoying the flexibility and savings of shopping online. While its popularity has increased, so have the risks. The most common items reported as online scams include trainers, clothes, gaming consoles and mobile phones. Scammers lure their victims in with the chance to bag this Christmas’ must have item, so here’s a reminder of our top tips to keep you safe when shopping online.
Shop with reputable retailers
Just like going to a store, go direct to retailers’ websites that are familiar and you know and trust, rather than using a search engine. Fraudsters can produce sophisticated copycat websites to trick you into purchasing from them. Online retailers should also provide their full address and contact information on their site.
Be wary of social media
The vast majority of online scams start with items advertised on social media. Scammers use fake profiles to direct you to bogus sites or pages, to advertise goods that don't exist. Only shop with profiles you trust and practice the other methods in this guide to keep your money safe.
Make sure the website is secure
Before entering any personal information, first check the site is secure. In the address bar, the start of the URL should be displayed as “https”, the “s” meaning secure. Also look out for the padlock symbol. By clicking this it will display that the connection is secure, and the site is certified.
Use a credit card
Using a credit card for online shopping is the safest way to make purchases due to their payment protection, which means you don’t have liability in the event of a fraudulent transaction. If you don’t want to use a credit card, online services such as PayPal also add extra protection to purchases.
Don’t feel pressure to buy now
Retailers will always use language to create urgency and encourage you to act fast and make a purchase. Scammers do this by offering a great price on a desirable product, with limited stock to entice you. Take your time and do your research. Don’t feel pressured to make a purchase and if it doesn’t feel right, take a step back and ask for advice.
Don’t overshare information
Only provide information that you would typically expect when making a purchase. Anything else should raise suspicion.
Update your antivirus
Scams evolve and the threat to your data changes regularly. Make sure you keep your software up to date so you can protect your information from the latest threats.
And remember if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is!
Delivery scams
There’s been a huge increase over the years of phishing scams, where the scammer falsely identifies as a delivery service, in the hope that you are waiting for a package. These happen throughout the year but really intensify at Christmas when more people are likely to have parcels delivered. Thankfully Royal Mail have gathered examples of this type of scam which will be sent to your email, inbox, or mobile phone via text message. Take a look at these Royal Mmail scam examples to learn what to look out for, how to keep safe, and what to do if you experience this type of scam.
