A quarter of all scam victims have lost money over Christmas – here’s how to protect yourself
Mums and dads wanting to get their hands on the likes of Lego Star Wars and LOL Big Surprise could be setting themselves up for a fall
PARENTS are being urged not to become a scam victim this Christmas as they search for the perfect present.
Some 65 per cent of parents would use an unfamiliar website in order to make sure their kids wake-up to the must-have toys under the tree on Christmas morning.
And with 69 per cent admitting they feel stressed and under pressure to get the ideal gift for their loved ones, the situation is ripe for online fraudsters to take advantage, Barclays warns.
It found that a quarter of online scam victims (26 per cent) were tricked over the Christmas period, with nearly half (48 per cent) caught-out buying gifts for someone else.
But such is the worry about not getting the best present, that 19 per cent admitted they would save their personal and bank details on an unfamiliar site, while 10 per cent would even pay for a gift via bank transfer.
One in four - 26 per cent - admitted they would resort to using the website which was selling the item the cheapest - even if they hadn't heard of it before.
According to the study, the most in demand toys this Christmas are the Lego Star Wars BB8 figure, Paw Patrol Sea Patroller and LOL BIG Surprise Doll.
Overall, buying clothes online is most likely to get you scammed - 17 per cent of former victims were buying clothes - followed by electronic items (16 per cent) and health and beauty products (8 per cent).
Samantha White, of Barclays, warned: “Scouring the internet for the perfect Christmas gift can be stressful, but if you lose sight of digital safety and just focus on the price, you could fall prey to festive fraudsters.
"Look out for 'too-good-to-be-true’ deals, and always take the time to check that the website you’re buying from is legitimate.”
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Earlier this month, it was revealed that victims of online fraud could find it easier to get their money back.
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Under current rules victims conned out of their money by paying by bank transfer have no legal right to get their money back.
But a new compensation service could be put into place by September next year to help people get their money back.
How to protect yourself from scams
SCAMMERS are becoming increasingly sophisticated to trick customers into transferring them money. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
- Never give out personal or financial information on the phone or by email. Your bank, the police or any other organisation will never ask you for these in full
- Never allow someone remote access to your computer following a cold call
- Don’t rely on caller ID – numbers can be spoofed by fraudsters to make it look like they’re calling from a trusted number
- Your bank, the police or any other company, will never call to ask you to transfer your money out of your account for security reasons
- Be wary of all cold calls claiming to be from banks, police, or other trusted organisations – if you have any concerns, call back on an independently verified number
- If you have fallen victim to a scam, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
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