Card fraud threats increase during Christmas shopping period

Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 13:29 by Simon Crisp

A new report from Financial Fraud Action UK has revealed the risks associated with ignoring the advice relating to safe shopping online in the run-up to the festive period this year. It also suggests that people will be less likely to think carefully if a bargain price is involved, according to the Express.

Close to a third of those questioned in the study said that they would be willing to risk fraud and identity theft when confronted with an especially appealing offer, meaning that more people are likely to play into the hands of cybercriminals as Christmas approaches.

Consumers under the age of 35 were found to be the biggest risk takers, with 46 per cent of this age group admitting to letting potential security issues slide to bag a bargain.

By comparison those shoppers who are over the age of 55 are far less trusting, with under a fifth stating that their habits for finding safe shopping online would be changing as the last minute rush to buy presents intensifies this year.

From phoney websites and phishing emails to misleading posts on social networks and ads which lie about what is on offer, there are a whole host of tactics that fraudsters deploy in order to scam innocent shoppers out of their cash. Furthermore, because more people will be buying items online this Christmas season than ever before, the attempts by criminals to target and con them will be more prevalent than ever.

Analysts at FFA UK predict that up to 15 million people across the country could be at serious risk of falling victim to this type of illegal activity over the course of the next few weeks, with the main advice being to only shop with sites that are trusted and reputable.