Stay Safe Online – Seven Ways to Stay Safe When Buying Online
With Christmas fast approaching, we need to be even more vigilant when buying Christmas presents:
Seven Ways to Stay Safe When Buying Online:
- Look for the little padlock alongside the domain name on the search bar – this shows that the connection is encrypted and any information transmitted through it is safe. But this doesn’t tell you that the website itself is safe.
- Does the website have proper contact details – an email address, phone number and postal address? If not, don’t trust it with any personal information. Search for the postal address online – is it located on Google Earth?
- If it’s a UK limited company you can check it is registered with companies House – and find out the names of the directors.
- Before choosing a supplier – check the reviews – on sites like Google or Trust Pilot – but don’t trust everything you read, reviews can be faked too!
- Genuine websites will have all the required policies – like privacy policy – and returns policy – listed on the site. But it may still be a copycat site – fraudsters copy corporate information including logos.
- Remember – if it sounds too good to be true – it’s probably a scam!
- Finally, if you pay via Paypal – not only is your purchase covered by their returns policy, Paypal will have already thoroughly checked out the business for you. And if you pay by credit card you are covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Never pay for anything by bank transfer.
Report any scams to www.actionfraud.police.uk
If you have been affected by a scam – help is out there – Victim Support has a free confidential helpline 0808 168 9111 and so does Mind 0300 123 3393.
Sign up for Which? Scam alerts: https://campaigns.which.co.uk/scam-alert-service/ Find details of recent scams here: www.actionfraud.police.uk and on our Facebook page: Rainford-it-stay safe online and on this blog on our website.
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Published in the December edition of Oswestry Life and the Whitchurch Gossip