This year it is predicted that Christmas Day will see record numbers of people go online for a bit of retail therapy and to bag a bargain in the sales.
The e-retailing group Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) forecasts that UK consumers will spend £186.4m online on Christmas Day, with the Boxing Day spend expected to be almost double at £367.8m. Despite the impact of the recession, these figures represent a 12% increase on 2010. Similarly, price comparison website Kelkoo said that overall, high street spending would drop 2.1% over Christmas, while online spending would increase by 16.4%.
Many online retailers begin promoting their post-Christmas sales online during the festive break, as savvy consumers – and those with vouchers burning a hole in their pocket – log on in anticipation of Boxing Day deals and other special offers.
However, there is growing concern about the number of bogus websites designed to rip-off consumers looking for post-Christmas bargains.
Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Judith Woodman is urging buyers to be extra vigilant and cautious in making any online transactions to avoid falling prey to phishing and online scams. She said: “Online shopping has become more and more popular and is a great way to beat the traditional shopping rush.
However, people need to be confident they are dealing with genuine websites, that the items they order are genuine and they will arrive. Although some of us are more expert in finding our way round, we all need to ensure that safety and security are primary concerns.”
Cardiff Council’s Trading Standards have five tips for consumers who want to stay safe online:
1) Pick a strong password. One idea you can try is to choose a line from your favourite song, film or play, such as “To be or not to be, that is the question”. Then use numbers, symbols and letters to recreate it: 2bon2btitq. The more unusual the phrase you choose the better.
2) Never reply to suspicious emails with your personal or financial information, and never enter your password after following a link from an email you don’t trust.
3) Look for “https” and a padlock in the URL bar to check a site is secure. When you go into a branch of your bank you recognise the official staff by their name, uniforms and the services they offer. Having this level of reassurance shouldn’t be any different for online banking or other sensitive services.
4) Always sign out and shut down your browser. Ever gone out for the day and left your front door wide open? Exactly! The same principle applies when you leave yourself signed in to online accounts on the computers you use.
5) Use two-step verification for accounts that offer it, such as Google and Facebook. Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to have access to your phone – as well as your username and password – when you sign in. This means that if someone steals or guesses your password, the potential hijacker still can’t sign in to your account because they don’t have your phone.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct Wales for clear practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 04 05 05 (Welsh) or Visit – www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scams
Consumers can report all types of scams at: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam
