press release

ONLINE SHOPPING FRAUD SET TO RISE AS CROOKS LOG ON TO RICH FESTIVE PICKINGS, WARNS MONEYNET

ONLINE shoppers should be extra vigilant when buying Christmas gifts online this season, warns financial data comparison site Moneynet.co.uk.

“Criminals are increasingly turning to the Internet to relieve consumers of their money and goods as the introduction of Chip and Pin cards has made credit card fraud harder,” said Moneynet chief executive Richard Brown.

“As more and more people now use online services to send seasonal gifts, it’s worth bearing in mind a few simple points to make sure that you – and your money – are safe,” he added.

Use sites you know and can trust – A good, no-brainer start is to use only reputable sites that you know and can trust or that have been recommended to you.

Only shop on secure sites – Before using your credit card on any site make sure that the site is secure. You can check this by looking for a locked padlock or unbroken key symbol in the bottom right hand corner of the window. The URL for the site will also be prefixed by ‘https’ instead of ‘http’ once you are in a secure area.

Check bank statements regularly – Always check your statements carefully and look out for any unusual transactions. If you find anything that doesn’t look right report it to your bank or building society immediately.

Protect your credit cards – Never leave your card lying around or let anyone take copies of your card.

Keep your PIN safe – Always protect your PIN number and never write it down.

Shred your bank statements and credit card statements – Criminals require surprisingly little information with which to commit fraud. Invest in a shredder and shred bank statements, credit card statements and utility bills before disposing of them.

Print off copies of your orders – Make sure that you understand the terms and conditions of your order and make sure you understand who is paying for delivery and what the returns policy is. Print copies from the site so that you have these to refer to in case of a dispute.

“Follow these fairly simple rules and you should protect yourself – and avoid the hordes of High Street festive shoppers,” said Brown.

“And remember that nothing is 100% safe - so always stay alert for anything that seems out of the ordinary and if in any doubt, don’t proceed,” he advised.