Don’t become a victim of online theft

Shopping online safely

There are now over 32 million people online in the UK. That’s about 65% of the adult population. More and more people use the internet to carry out their daily business ranging from banking to shopping. Year on year, the trend for internet retail sales has increased. Last year, the online retail sector grew 14%, bucking the general trend towards a slump on the High Street, and with an estimated £5.1 billion spent over all.

The disadvantage to this is that thieves and fraudsters are aware that there is a lot of money to be had in the online shopping world. They try lots of devious things to endeavour and con you out of your money, such as trying to obtain your bank details from you or taking your payment for an item, then not sending it. However, with a little knowledge and commonsense, you can protect yourself from this potential situation.

Top Tips for online security

1. Never respond to any sort of email or social networking message that asks you to give your bank account details and passwords. Be especially vigilant if an email that ‘looks’ like it came from your bank asks for your internet banking security passwords and do not respond to it. Banks have always stated that they NEVER ask for this type of information, so the message will be a fake. Delete the message and report it as being of a ‘phishing’ nature (a ‘phoney’ message, ‘fishing’ for information from you).

2. Check the site you are buying from has a ‘secure’ connection. Look for ‘https’ in the address bar and a padlock symbol before you put your credit card or bank details in to pay. Pay close attention to where the padlock is: if it is in the address bar or on the bottom of the frame of your browser, then it will be genuine. If it is in the main page you are reading, it is probably copied and so it is a fake. If you stick to well-known, reputable retailers, you reduce the chance of falling victim to internet fraud.

3. Make sure that you have good, up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware software on your computer. These can often detect fake websites and increase your security.

4. Don’t ever leave PIN numbers or passwords in your purse or wallet. If you lose it, a thief will have everything they need to spend all your money online without question. If you do unfortunately lose your wallet or have it stolen, call your bank immediately to cancel your card. Then report it to the police and list it as missing using our free stolen listings.

5. Register debit cards with your bank to shop online securely. Many banks offer this additional level of protection where they can immediately phone your home number with a code number, so ask for details. When you answer your home phone, you take note of the number code and type it into a box on the computer screen. This way the bank knows it really is you that is carrying out the transaction and any potential thief would be thwarted.

6. Make sure that your children don’t know passwords and have access to personal bank cards. It’s all too easy for youngsters to go on a little spending spree or even give out your personal details unwittingly.

7. Change your passwords regularly. Every month is a good rule of thumb, and try not to use the same password for everything you do online. Make sure the passwords you use are ‘strong’. Your child’s’ name, for example, would be very easy to guess, so think of something more obscure and add numbers to it (some websites insist that numbers and letters are used).

8. Keep alert on auction sites like eBay. Check the seller’s reputation before going ahead with a bid. Use trusted methods of payment; be very suspicious if only money transfers are accepted, for example. Be especially cautious if it is an overseas seller.

9. Be very careful about what details you are sharing on social network sites. It’s very easy to just put all your personal details out there which leaves you open to fraud. Make use of the security settings on your page and lock it to the general public.

10. Remember the golden rule: If a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be genuine. Avoid it at all costs and don’t proceed with the transaction. Above all, keep yourself and your details safe!