As shoppers get ready for Black Friday and find great deals on line, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire Sue Arnold urges people to be Cyber wise and not become victims of fraud.
Sue Arnold, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, said:
“An estimated £1.96 billion will be spent on Black Friday this week but unfortunately some of us will fall victim to online fraudsters who create bogus websites to advertise counterfeit goods and services that are often poor quality or are unsafe, or will never be delivered.
However, the good news is that there are simple tips to protect yourself as around 80 per cent of cyber-attacks such as identity theft and online fraud are preventable. You can avoid being a victim by:
- Look for the Padlock Sign in the address bar if you are paying for something online.
- Look carefully at emails you are sent. Beware of emails offering unbelievable bargains that look like they may be from a retailer.
- When online shopping sign up to Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code whenever given option
- Don’t share personal information, bank details or your address online when paying for that “bargain”.
- Use online retailers/brands you are aware of and trust.
- Check the delivery, insurance, warranty and returns policy.
- Make sure you have adequate anti-virus software that will enable your computer to flag any untrustworthy sites.
