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Fraud guide
Online shopping scams
Scams are on the rise
Online shopping scams are on the rise, with criminals often tricking victims on social media or online auction sites.
Some £57 million was lost to online shopping scams, the most common scam in 2020, mostly from personal accounts.
Read our tips to stay ahead of the game.
Data source: UK Finance annual fraud report 2021.
Do your research
If you spot a heavily discounted product, be on your guard. Check the seller's contact details on the website. If there's no phone number or address, it may not be genuine.
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Be website savvy
Make sure the web address in your browser begins with https://. The 's' stands for 'secure'. And watch out for spelling mistakes or strange characters in the web address. This can mean the site is fake.
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Use a safe payment
If a seller tells you they can't accept a card payment and asks you to send them money directly, don't do it. Pay with your debit or credit card. Criminals often try to convince you to transfer your money to a bank account.
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Social engineering
Social engineering is the way fraudsters manipulate people so that they hand over personal information.
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Identity theft
Is when a fraudster steal enough of your personal information to impersonate you. They then apply for loans, credit cards and other services in your name.
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