Scam Awareness
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday get closer, it's important to be careful when shopping online, especially because scams tend to increase during the holiday season. One common scam involves fake websites that advertise amazing discounts on popular items.
Here are some signs that a deal might be a scam:
- Too good to be true prices: If a price seems unusually low, check to see if that price matches what you find on well-known websites.
- Fake website addresses: Make sure the website's URL is the official one for the brand. Each brand usually has just one official site.
- Bad reviews: A lot of negative reviews can be a red flag, suggesting that the product or the site might not be trustworthy.
- Limited payment methods: If a site only lets you pay by bank transfer, that's risky. It's safer to use credit or debit cards or PayPal, as they offer better protection.
- New social media accounts: Be cautious with deals advertised by recently created social media profiles.
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank right away using the number on the back of your card, and report it to Action Fraud.
Also, be careful with Black Friday emails. Always check who sent the email and look at the links before clicking. It's a good idea to go directly to the retailer's website by searching for it instead of clicking on links that might be unsafe.
You can report suspicious websites on the National Cyber Security Centre's website. Click the button below.