A WARNING has been issued to online shoppers as police say they’ve seen fraud cases rise by 30% during the coronavirus pandemic.
Action Fraud figures show that more than 17,000 shoppers were conned out of almost £13.5 million during the 2019 festive season, an increase on the previous year.
Now, the group is warning residents to take extra care when buying over the internet.
It advises people to research a new shop before making a purchase.
If creating an account with the website, only share the necessary information – be wary if asked for details that are not required for the purchase, such as mother’s maiden name, or name of primary school.
When making payments, check that the website address is secure – it will start with https. Use a credit card to make a payment to ensure that the bank account is not directly affected.
Another tip is to be wary of emails received that contain links to fake websites.
If in doubt, visit the website directly.
For more information about how to shop online securely, visit: actionfraud.police.uk/shoponlinesafely
