Be Card Smart Online
This Christmas, The UK Cards Association is again running its successful Be Card Smart Online campaign - to remind shoppers of common sense advice to follow to stay safe online.
Shopping online is easy and convenient and growing in popularity: more than 32 million of us shopped online in the past year - 39% up on the 23 million who shopped online five years ago. This December, figures from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) forecast that UK shoppers are set to spend 16 per cent more online this year than last.
The Be Card Smart Online campaign aims to raise awareness of a simple checklist shoppers should follow. This advice will be featuring online at selected shopping websites for the duration of the campaign until mid-December and also at becardsmart.org.uk:
Keep your PC protected by ensuring your computer is equipped with the latest operating system, browser and up-to-date anti-virus software.
Look for the padlock symbol - especially if you're buying from a website for the first time. It's a good indication that they are reputable.
Register your cards with Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode when prompted. It is quick and easy and makes shopping online even safer.
Always log out after shopping online and save the confirmation e-mail as a record of your order.
In addition to these security tips, shoppers can make sure that gift buying online is stress-free by doing the following:
Only deal with reputable sellers - use sites you can trust. For example, sites you know or ones that have been recommended to you. Be particularly wary when buying from overseas. Be prepared to ask questions before buying.
Be sure you know who you are dealing with - always access the website you are planning to buy from by typing the address into your web browser. Never go to a website from a link in an unsolicited email and then enter your personal details or PIN.
Trust your instincts - if an offer looks too good to believe then there is usually a catch. Be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true.
Check delivery timescales and keep records - print out your order and keep copies of the retailer's terms and conditions, returns policy, delivery conditions, postal address (not a post office box) and phone number (not a mobile number). Having this information will help if you subsequently encounter difficulties with your order.
Section 75 protection - if you are buying something between £100 and £30,000 consider using a credit card, as you will then have extra protection through Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act - for transactions in the UK and abroad. This states that should a problem subsequently arise, such as the company going out of business, you can claim your money back from your credit card company.
Keep receipts and check these against your statement - if you spot a transaction you did not authorise speak to your card company immediately. If you are the innocent victim of any type of card fraud you will not suffer any financial loss.
The UK's banking and retail industries are backing the Be Card Smart Online campaign. Katy Worobec, Head of Fraud Control for The UK Cards Association, says: "Our Be Card Smart Online campaign has definitely played its part in driving down online fraud losses and we urge anyone planning to shop online this Christmas to remind themselves of our common sense advice."
For further information, visit becardsmart.org.uk.