Tag: online fraud

Stay Safe Online – Seven Ways to Stay Safe When Buying Online

Posted on December 3, 2023December 3, 2023 by Dane

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.

Rainford-IT are part of Strawberry Fields – Nominet Channel partners and Cisco network partners.

We register and renew domain names. We manage our own servers, email, IT and website hosting. We can fix most hardware – Macs as well as PCs. It’s a family business and we provide a personal service.

Worried about something – ring us – advice is free – 07552 863996

Published in the December edition of Oswestry Life and the Whitchurch Gossip

Stay Safe Online – watch out for current scams – celebrity impersonation scams – fake emails

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Dane

Dragon’s Den profiles are being falsely used to promote ‘clinically proven’ diet pills. Fake articles provide a link to purchase a bottle of pills – but the scammers simply steal your personal information.

Stay Safe Online – The Most Common Scams

Posted on September 20, 2023September 20, 2023 by Dane

Stay Safe Online – The Most Common Scams

THE MOST COMMON SCAMS

Phishing Scams are when scammers try to obtain personal data by getting you to click on links in emails, texts or Facebook ads which take you to dodgy look-alike websites. Current scams to watch out for include McAfee, BT, Netflix and diet pills.

Investment Scams involve fraudsters offering investment opportunities – using false figures and fake endorsements from celebrities. If it sounds too good to be true – it’s probably a scam – before thinking of investing your hard-earned cash – check with the FCA’s register.

Romance Scams typically begin on dating sites or apps with scammers establishing a relationship – then asking for money for made-up causes with a variety of reasons why they have no-one else to turn to. You can do a reverse image search to check a profile pic against known scammers – and cease contact immediately if someone asks you for money.

Shopping Scams get you to pay for items that you never receive – from dodgy websites, auction sites or via social media – event tickets being a prime example. Scammers often ask for payment via bank transfer or bitcoin – if you can’t pay by Paypal – be suspicious.

Vishing Scams – combine ‘voice’ and ‘phishing’ and involve scammers impersonating a company – like your bank – to obtain personal details. Callers will say your account has been compromised. Put the phone down and contact your bank directly – from the number on their website.

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.

Rainford-IT are part of Strawberry Fields – Nominet Channel partners and Cisco network partners.

Worried about something – ring us – advice is free – 07552 863996

Published in Oswestry Life magazine

#staysafeonline @actionfrauduk @WhichUK #WeFixMacs @OswestryLife

Stay Safe Online – Amazon returns ’empty box’ warning, Evri fake emails

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Dane

Stay Safe Online

Amazon warning

We received a report from someone who had ordered an Iphone 13 pro from Amazon, but wasn’t happy with it so returned it and bought an iphone 13 instead (also from Amazon). The Iphone 13 pro (£993) was sent back via Royal Mail and insured for £1000. The phone was securely packaged in the original box with all the accessories, the package was securely taped with fragile tape and the royal Mail receipt shows the weight of the package – it obviously wasn’t an empty box!

Amazon claim that the package contained an empty box and have refused to refund the money. They have also refused to provide proof that the package was tampered with so Royal Mail will not accept a claim on the insurance. Repeated phone calls to Amazon and emails to the returns team and customer service and the complaints team have proved ineffective. The credit card company has been sympathetic but nothing has been resolved yet.

When we looked on online forums we found this is not an isolated case – there is a report from someone who had the same problem except he sent the phone back via Hermes – which was the only option that Amazon gave him – so he had no proof of the weight of the parcel.

We have recommended contacting the Consumer Helpline at Citizens Advice free on 0808 223 1133 and contacting www.which.co.uk – by phone or email on their ‘get in touch’ page https://www.which.co.uk/about-which/get-in-touch-aBnhv8z1Uslr

In the meantime, we recommend buying a new phone from a retail shop – so you can physically take it back if there’s a problem – or if you change your mind.

Talking about deliveries, watch out for this fake Evri email (Evri used to be Hermes) which we have reported to them. The email address is the clue that this email isn’t from Evri!

Find details of recent scams here: www.actionfraud.police.uk and on our Facebook page: Rainford-it-stay safe online

Rainford-IT are part of Strawberry Fields – Nominet Channel partners and Cisco network partners. We register and renew domain names. We manage our own servers, email, IT and website hosting. We can fix most hardware – Macs as well as PCs. It’s a family business and we provide a personal service.

Published in the October edition of the Whitchurch Gossip