SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is warning constituents to shop securely online this Christmas.
Mr Rowlands is backing a timely reminder from North Wales Police to make sure they are not caught out by fake listings.
He said: “I am urging my constituents across North Wales not to be caught out by cyber criminals who will post fake listings for many different products online.
“These days more than ever we all have to be on the lookout for scammers and be especially aware at this time of the year.
“It is wise to remember that if you do see an offer online which appears to be too good to be true then it probably is.”
North Wales Police, Cyber Crime Officer, Dewi Owen, is now warning people to take care when shopping online.
Figures show that shoppers lost over £11.5 million to cyber criminals during last year’s festive season and people are being urged to be aware of fake postings from criminals who send genuine-looking emails and texts to lure victims to fake online shopping websites.
- Warning signs to be beware include: The offer seems ‘too good to be true’; You are asked to pay by bank transfer only not via a secure payment option and the website is only days/weeks old.
- To protect yourself while shopping online this Christmas: Research sellers to check that they are legitimate; using a credit card or secure payment platform and only provide enough details to complete your purchase.
For further top tips on how to shop online securely this festive season go to the UK government’s Nation Cyber Security Centre page. #NWPCyberSafe
