The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and other Head’s of UK cyber and law enforcement agencies are urging shoppers to be cautious when shopping for Christmas and Black Friday gifts online this year amidst a rise in scams.
According to figures from Action Fraud, British shoppers lost over £11 million to cyber criminals during last year’s festive shopping period between November 2023 and January 2024, with clothing, high-end tech products and cars among the most common products cited and each victim losing £695 on average. This compares to reported losses amounting to £10.6 million the previous year.
The new figures are published on the same day as the NCSC launches a nationwide campaign, as part of Stop! Think Fraud, to encourage people to set-up 2-step verification on their most important accounts.
The latest figures, which come from reports made to Action Fraud and analysed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), revealed that 7,168 reports (43%) mentioned a social media platform, with online marketplaces being mentioned in 18.9% of reports.
The figures also revealed that those aged 30-39 submitted the largest number of reports (23%), closely followed by 40–49-year-olds (20%). The average age of victims was 42.
As the festive season approaches here are few reminders about shopping safely online:
1) Stick to the trusted websites
Don’t purchase items from suspicious websites; make sure that you are visiting an official site – avoid falling for seemingly reputable “deals!”
2) Be cautious on social media marketplaces
Whether you’re selling or buying, scammers will be keen to con you. Avoid giving away any personal details online and be wary of sellers listing expensive items – you could lose out on lots of money for fake listings.
3) Store passwords safely
Many online retailers require you to setup logins to purchase items or gain access to exclusive deals, which can leave you creating low-security passwords to save time. Avoid falling victim to a cyber breach, which could put your financial details at risk, and use a secure password manager to generate strong passwords and store them safely.
4) Turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV)
2SV gives you twice the protection so even if cyber criminals have your password, they can’t access your email. 2SV works by asking for more information to prove your identity. For example, getting a code sent to your phone when you sign in using a new device or change settings such as your password.
For further guidance on shopping safely online, please contact [email protected] or sign up to our free core membership to keep up to date with the latest cyber security matters and keep your business safe online.
The NEBRC is a non-profit organisation that seeks to educate, inform, and support businesses across the UK to stay safe in the digital landscape through strong cyber security practices.