Tightened finances have driven millions of people to do their Christmas shopping online this year. In fact, research by PayPal shows that nearly 27million will be using the web to chase bargains and find elusive presents.
We're spending more too this year. The UK Payments Administration reports that shoppers are set to spend 15% more this December than last, which could well entice more scammers to turn their attention to the web.
So, while 62% of people say their priority is to find a bargain and save some cash, according to PayPal, are they giving enough thought to online security?
How can you protect yourself from a Christmas catastrophe? Here are some top tips on staying safe online this Yuletide.
Protect your PC
If you're going to use a computer to carry out any kind of online transaction, you need to be confident that it's secure.
Make sure it has up-to-date anti-virus and firewall software. If your computer is compromised by a malicious software then you risk handing your card details over to cybercrooks.
Increasingly, banks will now question whether or not your machine was properly protected when you report fraud and identity theft to them. That makes it even more important to protect yourself.
Choose a trustworthy retailer
When you're shopping online, try to find websites and brands that you can trust.
If you use a high-profile website, you're less likely to receive fakes or low-qualify presents and you can also be confident you can return unsatisfactory gifts.
Of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't use smaller retailers - sometimes they will carry the best bargains, especially if you're using online auction sites.
However, it's worth taking a few minutes to research the company or seller and check that they're reputable by reading some reviews, or checking their rating if you're using a site like eBay.
Only use retailers that have a postal address as well as their website, so that you can always get in touch if there are problems with the transaction.
Use secure sites
Before you share any of your card information with a site, make sure it's genuine and secure.
A favourite trick of scammers is to set up websites using misspellings of popular brands and masquerade as that well-known company.
PayPal reports that more than 80% of shoppers admit not checking the web address, so the majority of people are gambling with their safety.
It can be very difficult to spot that these professional-looking pages are a fraud, so check the spelling in the URL and be confident you're on the real thing.
There are a couple of ways you can tell if the website you're using is secure. One is the address - if it begins 'https' rather than just 'http', then it the web page is secure.
You can also look for a padlock at the bottom right of the browser window. Of course, it's not too hard for a fraudster to add an image of a padlock to their page, so only trust the site if the symbol appears within the browser, not the page.
Pay safely
If you use a credit rather than a debit card, the Consumer Credit Act 1974 gives you some extra protection.
When you use your credit card, the provider is jointly liable with the retailer for purchases worth between £100 and £30,000.
That means that if your transaction does go wrong - perhaps the goods are faulty or simply don't show up - the credit card provider has to offer you a refund if you cannot get one from the retailer.
If you're worried that a seller might go bust or simply vanish, that will give you extra peace of mind.
Watch out for scams
People can be frantic to find the latest must-have toys and gifts at Christmas, and scammers can take advantage of that.
If you receive an unsolicited email offering a deal that seems too good to be true - perhaps a free sample of the popular Go Go Hamsters - be very wary about replying or sharing any personal information.
When offers seem too good to be true, they usually are.
Keep track
Christmas is costly. If you're shelling out hundreds of pounds on toys, tinsel and turkeys, it can be easy to lose track of how much money should be in your account.
That makes it particularly important to read your bank statements after your shopping binge, so that you can be certain you have only spent money where you expected to.
Keep a note, perhaps a spreadsheet, of exactly where you spent money and how much so that you can double check your transactions once your statement comes through.
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