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With Black Friday just around the corner, it’s crucial that shoppers understand how to stay safe from online scams, which are getting more and more difficult to spot.
With this in mind, experts at Proxyrack have shared 6 tips to help consumers shop safely online this festive season.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi
Whether it’s in a shopping centre or a cafe, it’s a common occurrence to use public Wi-Fi to browse social media or catch up on emails, but carrying out any financial transactions should be avoided. If you want to purchase an item online, it’s best to use your personal Wi-Fi at home as you’re more susceptible to your details being exposed when using public internet.
Make sure the website is secure
As more people shop online, it poses more opportunities for scammers. When making a transaction online, it’s important to make sure the website is secure. One of the most common ways to do this is to make sure the website URL starts with https. If the URL doesn’t start with this then it’s best to carry out some further checks of your own, such as reading reviews.
Use a credit card or PayPal
One of the most common ways to pay for an item online is by debit card, but if possible, it’s best to use PayPal or a credit card as these methods offer more protection. PayPal makes it harder for scammers to obtain your details, whereas you’re more exposed when using a debit card and you don’t have as much protection from your bank.
Only purchase from reputable retailers
If a sponsored ad appears on your social media and you like the look of the product, it can be easy to be drawn into purchasing from a new retailer. Most retailers are more than acceptable to purchase from but be sure to know they have a good reputation before making any transactions – check reviews, social media profiles and the quality of the website.
Make sure software and virus protections are up-to-date
Whether you’re shopping online at Christmas or during the summer for a new outfit, you must have up-to-date software and virus protection at all times. Not having adequate protection makes you more exposed to scammers and viruses which in turn, increases the chances of your details being more accessible. If you haven’t updated your protection for a long period, it’s worth doing before you start your Christmas shopping.
Know your rights before purchasing
No matter what time of the year you’re shopping online, it’s important to know your rights as a consumer. One of the main factors to consider in the run-up to Christmas is whether the person you’re buying a gift for may need to return it. Different retailers have varied rules on the duration of time in which products can be returned so make sure you’re aware of this to avoid losing money.
Ariana Bago, Fraud Analyst at Proxyrack has commented on how consumers can remain as safe as possible when shopping online: “With the Christmas countdown almost upon us, many Brits will be turning online to purchase presents varying from clothing to tech and gadgets. In 2022 alone, it was reported that over £4 billion was lost to fraudsters which highlights the importance of remaining safe when shopping online, which is why we wanted to share the following tips and advice with consumers.
There are several factors to consider when shopping online, some of which will help you identify if you are browsing a trustworthy website and whether or not you could be at risk of a scam. To begin with, it’s advised to only shop on reputable websites that you have either shopped on before, or the website has a good variety of customer reviews.
Secondly, it’s important to consider the best payment method, which in the case of online shopping, is PayPal or a credit card. Using either of these methods provides you with more protection compared to a debit card and PayPal makes it harder for scammers to obtain your private details.
In most cases, shopping online is extremely safe but it’s important to be aware of the dangers to look out for and how to reduce your risks of falling victim to a scam or purchasing from an untrustworthy retailer”.
