Criminals on the web lurking to scam shoppers this Christmas
With over half the UK adult population now shopping online, forecasters predict pre-Christmas web sales will peak at £23.2m between 12-1pm on 'Mega Monday' . Police analysts advise this frenetic activity also raises the risk of buyers losing money to criminals.
Shoppers should be aware that behind some flashy websites, canny criminals are looking to cash-in on the December online spree. Anonymous fraudsters can set up legitimate-looking websites to sell either counterfeit goods or no goods at all. According to figures compiled by the NFA's Action Fraud and the City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), there has been a 15 per cent increase in reports of online shopping and auction fraud since July .
The organisations are also warning people to take extra care when purchasing popular Christmas gifts online. Previous reports to Action Fraud and other agencies, suggest the following products are the top five to feature in online shopping and auction fraud:
1. Smart Phones
2. Digital Cameras
3. Designer goods including jewellery and branded boots
4. Laptops and notebooks
5. Video game systems.
To view simple safety tips to avoid becoming a victim go to www.leicestershirenhw.com
Visit Action Fraud for daily prevention tips in the run up to Christmas, join NFA's Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @leicsnhw
