PEOPLE in Donegal are being warned to be vigilant for scams when shopping this festive season.
Local gardaí issued the warning to consumers, warning them to be on the guard when shopping, particularly online.
Gardaí said that while some scams can appear “quite obvious”, others are more elaborate and difficult to recognise.
They said that with Christmas fast approaching, there is always a significant increase in the numbers of people shopping online at this time of year.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau have issued the following tips to help protect against online fraud.
The ‘golden rules’ of online shopping include, using a secure webstie/trusted source, ensure that the website you are on is not cloned or fake, and make sure your internet access is secure.
“Make sure there is a ‘https’ at the beginning of the web address and a ‘padlock’ symbol displayed beside the website address before the purchase is made – this indicates a secure connection. The padlock symbol alone does not make a website legitimate. When the beginning of the retailer’s website address changes from ‘http’ to ‘https’ before a purchase is made it means that you are using a secure connection,” warn the National Economic Crime Bureau.
Consumers are also urged to check reviews and ratings – especially for unknown stores and sellers.
“Look for the trust seals – trust seals are commonly placed on homepages, login pages, and checkout pages. They are immediately recognisable and they remind visitors that they are secure on this page. You can click on them to ensure they are authentic.
“Always use credit cards when purchasing online – they have a strong customer protection policy. Alternatively, use an online payment option, of which there are many.
“Do not send money direct to someone you do not know – you wouldn’t give money to a random person on the street, the internet should be no different.”
People are urged never to send their credit card details, including their PIN number or any other information to any person by email.
“If you do not complete a purchase do not submit or save your card details. Never purchase through social media or where the ‘offer’ came to you via social media.
“Stop, think and check before committing to buy.”
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