Stay Cybersafe when buying online this Christmas
07 Dec 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Online Christmas deals might not always be the bargains they seem to be warns Northumberland County Council’s Trading Standards.
While many offers are genuine, some are not, and the Council’s Trading Standards officers are advising consumers to be vigilant when buying Christmas gifts or snapping up a treat for themselves.
They advise on exercising caution when a price seems too good to be true as there could be a sinister reason why.
They also advise watching out for sellers who promote great offers via online marketplaces such as eBay or Facebook and to be sceptical if they offer hard-to-get items, such as the must-have Christmas toy that has been out of stock with all major retailers.
The following online shopping safety tips are recommended:
1. Make sure the website is genuine. Some scammers are very good at designing websites to look like well-known brands and can fool the unwary. The best way to make sure you are shopping on the genuine website is to type in the address yourself rather than clicking on a link.
2. Check their reputation. If you are unfamiliar with the retailer, it is wise to do an online search to check recommendations and feedback from other customers to gauge their reputation
3. Look for contact details. A telephone number, business trading name and office address should be on the site.
4. Check the refund and returns policy before you place an order. This should be available on the website.
5 Keep your antivirus and firewall software up to date. The latest versions of web browsers help block spoof websites. Switch on the ‘automatic updates’ setting so your protection is kept up-to-date.
6 Ensure the checkout is secure. At the online check-out, before you type in your credit card details, make sure the web address bar has switched from ‘http:’ to ‘https:’ to indicate a secure, encrypted connection. Any legitimate online site processing payments always switch to a secure connection at this stage.
7. Guard your privacy. Do not disclose personal information unless you know who is receiving it, why they need it, and how they’ll use it.
8. Keep a record of your transactions. Set up a folder on your computer where you can store all your transaction history. This way, if there is ever a dispute you have the information on hand.
9. Know your rights: You have a cooling off period for most goods, which is a minimum of 14 days and starts the day after you receive the order. This period allows you to return the goods because you have changed your mind, although be aware that you may be liable for the return costs. It is advisable to make a note of the dates you bought the item, when you received it and check the returns policy. If you return the item, do so within the cooling off period and get proof of postage.
10. Use a credit card for purchases over £100. Rather than using your debit card for purchases over £100, it is worth using a credit card as you have additional legal protection. This means you are covered for a variety of situations. For example, you should not have to pay for something which wasn’t fit for purpose or never arrived. The card company is jointly liable with the retailer for any breach of contract, although this does not cover third party payment where you are not paying the business directly. e.g., PayPal. This same protection is not afforded to some debit cards.
Other warning signs include traders who accept bank transfer payments only and adverts giving very little information about the item or seller.
Remember too, to check the delivery date given by the supplier. Some products are shipped from overseas and can take much longer than expected.
Northumberland County Councillor, John Riddle, Cabinet member for Community Services said:
“We are encouraging residents to buy locally wherever possible to support retailers and businesses through this pandemic.
Our Trading Standards Service receives regular complaints from shoppers who, after shopping online, have found that they have inadvertently bought counterfeit goods, or the trader they paid has disappeared, or the goods or services they purchased have never arrived.
Fraudsters will be exploiting this time of year, where people are looking for Christmas gifts at bargain prices. Don’t rush to buy - just taking a few minutes to check whether the deal is legitimate could save you from being scammed.
If possible, buy from internet traders you know and trust. For unknown traders, search for reviews online, or check out their customer review ratings. Make sure the trader has a genuine address and landline number you can contact them on if things go wrong, not just an email address.
Don’t rush into buying something just because it looks like a bargain, consider carefully if you really want the item and that you are not going to put yourself under financial strain by purchasing the item”
If you think you have received or been victim to a scam or bought counterfeit or unsafe goods, or for any other problems relating to the purchase of consumer goods, please call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.