During this peak online shopping period there is an increased risk to shoppers, with fraudsters primed to take advantage of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas rush. Scammers frequently use contaminated links hidden within emails, social media and online adverts which lead unsuspecting shoppers to counterfeit websites. These fake sites often impersonate well-known stores or brands offering ‘discounted deals’ to entice people.
According to research published by FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), last year one in five regular online shoppers* said they had lost money through online scams, with some losses running into hundreds of euros.
Mary D’Arcy, Financial Crime Lead, FraudSMART said: “Worryingly, our research also highlights that one in five shoppers admit to not taking basic security precautions when shopping online. These precautions include checking for a secure connection (e.g., a ‘https’ and a padlock image at the beginning of the web address) and avoiding the use of public wi-fi for payments. Almost 50% of online shoppers confess to clicking on links from social media or pop-up ads instead of independently visiting and checking the website of the company. We are calling on people to be extra vigilant as the Christmas shopping season ramps up, especially with Black Friday deals flooding inboxes and social media feeds.”
Scamchecker.ie – a free and simple way to check websites and links before making a purchase
The FraudSMART Scamchecker.ie offers shoppers a free and simple way to check the legitimacy of websites and links before they make a purchase. By cross-referencing the link with a real-time database of known scam sites and malware hosts, Scamchecker.ie helps shoppers make an informed decision, used alongside other precautions, before buying online.
Ms D’Arcy concluded: “These scams can be very deceptive and difficult to spot. That’s why we are calling on consumers to pause for thought before parting with their money or information online and familiarise themselves with a few simple protective steps. Importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help if something does go wrong. If you think you have fallen victim to an online shopping scam, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your debit or credit card and report the incident to the Gardaí.”
Consumers can access a wealth of other advice on how to avoid fraud by visiting www.FraudSMART.ie.
Scamchecker.ie is available here.
Top tips for shopping safely online this Christmas
- Look for a padlock symbol beside the website address, which indicates the site is secure.
- Ensure the website address begins with ‘https’.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making online payments; always switch to a personal network like 3G or 4G.
- Avoid clicking on links from social media or pop-up ads; instead, type the website address directly into your browser.
- Beware of deals that seem too good to be true – they usually are.
- Stick to well known websites or retailers that you are familiar with.
Use Scamchecker.ie to verify the legitimacy of a website before making a purchase.
