Fraudsters capitalising on rise in online shopping and lack of industry action
Consumers are reminded to Stop, Think and Check!
In the last year, there has been a 32% increase in purchase scams reported to
Providing practical advice for consumers,
'It's unacceptable to see fraudsters operating so openly through online advertisements. No company should be generating advertising revenue from criminals - search engines, websites and social media platforms really need to step up and crack down. Our advice to consumers is don't click on these adverts, ignore them completely, and if something sounds too good to be true, it's probably fraud.'
Research and read reviews to check the site and the seller are genuine.
Be alert to poor grammar and spelling, or vague product descriptions.
Go directly to the online shopping site by typing the web address into your web browser.
Links in unsolicited emails or on social media are not always safe and should be avoided.
Use secure payment methods, try and pay by debit or credit card, or the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites, as this could give you more protection.
Never agree to buying vouchers or other items for someone as a way to pay for something else.
Always view large purchases in person prior to making full payment for them.
If people suspect they have been a victim of fraud they should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can take action to stop a fraud in progress and try to recover funds.
For full listing of fraud awareness events and advice and information on fraud visit the
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Resourcing a dedicated fraud team which works 24/7 to catch fraud attempts and alert and protect customers, and to attempt to retrieve customers' money when a fraud attempt is successful;
Investing in a range of fraud services, tech systems, and upgrades to enhance consumer and business protection from fraud;
Running ongoing fraud-awareness campaigns directed at customers and the wider public, and support the sector in similar activity through our membership of the BPFI and its FraudSmart campaign;
Maintaining active working relationships with national and international police forces and inter-governmental agencies to track emerging threats.
Practical steps that we have taken to protecting customers include:
Providing
In-app Card Control features
Two-factor authentication
Providing warning messages to customers at the time of setting up a new beneficiary, this encourages customers to Stop, Think and Check before sending money.
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