Black Friday reminder – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! We encourage you to be wary of scams when shopping online this Black Friday.
We know that with the cost-of-living crisis and particularly before Christmas people are on the lookout for a bargain. Fraudsters are aware of this and waiting to exploit you. Always do your research before you make a purchase.
You can:
- Check website links to make sure they are genuine. You can check the legitimacy of a website at getsafeonline.org and report suspicious websites to the National Cyber Security Centre. ncsc.gov.uk.
- Check the website address starts with https and has a padlock which you can click for more information about the website’s security.
- Read online reviews across a number of sources, such as Trustpilot or Feefo which aggregate customer reviews.
- Never pay by bank transfer. Buying on a credit, debit card or using PayPal gives you a greater level of protection.
- Beware of Facebook profiles that have been set up very recently.
- Never be rushed into making a purchase. Always take five to stop fraud. takefive-stopfraud.org.uk
If you have been a victim of a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.