Don’t be a Victim of Online Crime
Intellectual property crime is costing the UK economy hundreds of millions of pounds each year, with organised crime gangs causing significant damage to industries that are produce legitimate, high quality, physical goods and online and digital content in an increasingly competitive climate
The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) is being funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and run by the City of London Police to combat this criminality, with a special focus on offences committed online. PIPCU recommends online shoppers to follow the tips below to help keep fraudsters at bay:
1.Trust your instincts – if an offer looks too good to believe then there is usually a catch. Legitimate popular technology and designer items are rarely discounted.
2.Check the URL in the web browser. Don’t be fooled by spoof websites where the fraudsters slightly change the address.
3.Ensure the website address begins ‘https’ at the payment stage – this indicates a secure payment.
4.Don’t access links in unsolicited emails, always type in the website address or use a search engine to find a site.
5.Only deal with reputable sellers – only use sites you know or ones that have been recommended to you.
6.Avoid paying by money transfers – they aren’t secure. Use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.
7.Watch out for pop-ups appearing asking you to confirm your card details before you are on the payment stage. Never enter your PIN number online.
8.If your bid for an online auction item is unsuccessful, don’t be tempted to trade off-site if another seller approaches you with a similar item. This is likely to be a scam and you won’t be covered.
9.Keep security software and firewalls up-to-date. Regularly update your internet browser when a new patch-security update is released.
10.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.
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