How to stay safe when shopping online, and avoid scams and identity theft

jj20

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035008#Comment_82035008

Thanks pennyintopounds, I appreciate you replying. I'm gonna have to write down all the info I've been given as I get so muddled up and forgetful with it all. No, there's no particular websites at the moment. Its just with the way things are going now with shopping online i'm just going to have to learn how to do it. (I'm defo a bit of a technophobe though ha)

lr1277

In 2024 I had 5 attempts at fraud by people calling me. 3 times on my credit card and twice on my debit card. I gave the callers no information. However each time I reported this to my bank. that card was cancelled and a new card sent out. Which is why it is a good idea to have a backup account and card(s).

Never give any information out if anybody calls you. If they say they are from your bank, take their name and say you will call them back on the official bank telephone number. Most fraudsters try and smooth talk you into giving the details anyway for example they can't be contacted etc. In that case, I say write to me (btw I think they had enough of my address but they never wrote to me). When somebody legitimate called me from the bank about my situation and I said I would call the bank, ,they were completely fine with that. That is what you should expect. Btw: one particular rep insisted on cancelling my card because I had called the bank on the same phone where I received the fraudulent call. To be safe when calling the bank, call from a different phone (number).

I just realised there are 4 sites I regularly use, one of them being Just Eat. Given the problems I just described, the internet suggested Just Eat were a problem. Even more so in the last few weeks as you no longer have to enter the CVV number for each order. If you are not aware, the CVV number is usually 3 digits printed in the white strip where you sign the card. The other problem site identified on the internet was Amazon because they don't ask for the CVV number either. I think Just eat ask for the CVV the first time you use that card. With Amazon I can't remember if they even asked for the CVV once. Btw the purpose of the CVV is that it should prove you have the card in your possession.

danny13579

jj20

Thanks again Danny, it's a lot of info to take it. No, I've not used a debit or credit card in a shop before. What puzzles me about shopping online and if card details are processed securely then how do thieves get hold of your details and make purchases on your account?

I could just drop my debit card on the floor and not notice for a few hours. Someone finds it and uses it to make some contactless payments.

Some companies may (with your consent) store your card details to make future purchases easier, they may possibly store these details in a non-secure manner, and then could be hacked. Even then, there are mechanisms in place for consumers such as authenticating online purchases through banking apps or codes sent to your phone when an attempt is made to make a purchase. Many banking apps allow you to freeze your card, or cancel it completely and request a replacement. Companies know that people want convenience, and will want to give them that, often at the expense of security.

Giving your card details over the phone or in an email (even if the company you're giving them to is genuine) is another way fraudsters can get hold of your card details as both are notoriously insecure communication methods.

Another way is fraudsters tricking people into giving them their card details, perhaps over the phone, pretending to be someone else and gaining their trust, before taking advantage of them.

But the encryption used to transmit these details whether it's making an online purchase or paying for your shopping in Tesco, is so powerful that it would take longer than the age of the earth (possibly even the universe) to brute force break them.

XzavierWalnut

Was a few years ago now, but my credit card was fraudulently used 3 times after using it online.
Once was after using Just Eat. The other 2 times, I believe, was after using a legitimate stained glass shop who had physical shop and a website. I stopped using this site and did not have any problems after.
I asked the credit card fraud team how this was possible? They advised that it was either someone who worked in the shop using my details or selling them, or the shops website had been hacked.

Ergates

The first thing I'd say is that whilst it's always important to be careful, the news - as is the nature of the news - can give and exaggerated impression of the risks.

As long as you take a few simple precautions, the chances of being a victim of fraud are fairly low. Despite what you read, it isn't like the wild west out there. The vast majority of online shops are legitimate and the vast vast majority of online purchases proceed without issue. If this weren't the case, then people would simply stop shopping online.

The biggest piece of advice is, as other have said, never ever click on adverts you see on social media (though from the sound of it, I'm guessing you probably don't use social media much, if at all).

In terms of where to find safe places to shop: All the major UK supermarkets have an online store, as do most of the other large retail store (M&S, John Lewis, Next, Waterstones, Currys, AO etc). Plus there are a few well known online-only shops, like Amazon. If you do a google search for a particular store you'll get a link to their website.

This means is that you can get most things you might want from the online shop of a known reputable (and UK based) retailer.

If there's something in particular you're looking for that these shops don't have, then the next step would be to ask people for their recommendations for safe places to shops. Either people you know in person, or places like this.

Cisco001

Don't do Bank Transfer

Check trustpilot prior purchase.

Check where is the goods coming from. If it is from oversea, expect minimal consumer right, difficult to return and potential warranty issue.

By the way, I think you should get a provisional driving licence if you don't want to spend the cash on passport.

Nasqueron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034706#Comment_82034706

The items you buy from JL are almost certainly the same item shipped from China with their profit on it

Nasqueron

I would not trust Amazon as far as I can throw Jeff Bezos - not to say I don't use them but there are so many scammers on there that buying from manufacturer's stores is probably best. There are fake memory sticks for example that pretend to have huge capacity for dirt cheap prices and they are dodgy as anything.

I would always compare prices from Amazon to other sites and see if they are unrealistic

lr1277

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035829#Comment_82035829

But that is not important to me. What is important is the customer service and the returns policy.

Basically service recovery.

And that profit you mention is JL's markup to provide the service recovery. I am fine with that.

danco

If you buy from Amazon check who it is sold by and shipped by. Sellers are often not Amazon itself. They are usually fine but not always.

It may be possible to set your own contactless limit, this is a new option and not all cards permit it.

Also when you have an app for a card you can probably freeze the card. That way, no-one can use it at all until it is unfrozen. I use several banks and as they all provide a debit card I have most of them frozen.