In 2020, online payment fraud doubled in the lead up to the big Black Friday and Cyber Monday events as online payments and the hunt for a good deal increased.
To help online shoppers stay protected during the run-up to Christmas, private and commercial bank Arbuthnot Latham has provided 5 top tips to ensure that shoppers do not get caught in deals that are too good to be true, and festive shopping can be done safely and securely online.
5 Easy Ways To Stay Safe Online This Festive Season
- Do your research. Check the prices of items you are interested in before Black Friday weekend to understand the actual saving better. If a deal looks too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
- Only use secure websites from trusted brands. Look for the padlock symbol or ‘https’ in the address bar.
- Use debit or credit cards to make purchases as you have added protection. Never make a bank transfer.
- Watch out for fake mobile messages, social media adverts, and emails with suspicious links, grammar, and spelling mistakes or communication which appears ‘off brand’ These may include:
- Fake confirmation of order emails
- Fake offers or links to vouchers
- Text alerts about missed deliveries
- Often, a quick internet search of the company name and the word ‘scam’ will identify if there is a known scam in circulation.
Ensuring your electronic devices are protected with anti-virus software and firewalls can prevent a scam before it even appears on your device.
If you feel you have fallen victim to online fraud, it is vital to act fast and not panic; alert your bank straight away on a number you trust, such as the one provided on the website.
Keeping up to date on the latest fraud scams can also be highly beneficial, giving shoppers a head start with what to look out for.
For more information on how shoppers can protect themselves from scams this Black Friday, please click here.