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

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035107#Comment_82035107

Make sure it's with a different banking group than the one you're currently with. If Natwest systems go down then so will RBS for instance. Of course going with a new group makes it more likely for them to need ID so you might see if there's a branch near you that you can go in to open the account. Take documents like a letter from HMRC, council tax, gas bill etc.

lr1277

And with Amazon, if you are buying from a 3rd party seller and not Amazon themselves, please check the reviews of the seller. If I had done that I might not have lost over £100 buying printer ink cartridges. By the time I came to return the ink cartridges many months later, the seller was no longer on Amazon and so the money had essentially gone to a scammer. I might have not bought from this seller if I had read the reviews prior to buying.

I feel justified in saying scammer because the seller sold the type of cartridges you get when you first buy a printer. However they were advertised as replacement cartridges. The printer knew the difference between the two types of cartridge and so rejected this particular set of cartridges from Amazon. The reason for the many months is I bought the cartridges far too early and it was after about 6 months before I tried using them.

Nasqueron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035859#Comment_82035859

Many stores are drop ship front ends, you don't know they are shipping from China until you see the shipment paperwork, you didn't specify in the comment I replied to that you were buying for the returns policy /shrug

jj20

Thanks to everyone who replied. Their is definately a lot of things to consider when shopping onlne. So it seems opening a separate account, having a bank account app, setting limits and notifications on it, or freezing it when not in use, and checking security of site items are the best ways going forward.

Just curious to know if people mostly use their mobiles or laptops etc to shop online now though? Also does a mobile need to have security updates and be replaced when these end or is the banking app security enough? Is there anything else I need to consider? Thanks again.

eskbanker

Also does a mobile need to have security updates and be replaced when these end or is the banking app security enough?

The role of banking apps when shopping online is generally only to authorise the card payment, so their security has nothing to do with the security (or lack thereof) of the actual shopping site itself.

danny13579

jj20 Do you have a bank account with a debit card? You said earlier you've never used a debit card in a store or online. It may be easier to use one for the first time in a physical store such as a supermarket and when you see how that works, then move onto online purchases. Maybe bring someone with you for support.

I use an iPad if the retailer has an app, such as Amazon, M&S, Sainsbury's. Otherwise I use my computer. I have McAfee security on both my computer and iPad which is regularly updated on both.

jj20

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037163#Comment_82037163

Just the one card which I use to withdraw cash when I need it. I want to keep that account separate though just in case of any fraud as it has my bit of savings in it, and il open up another account if I can. It's probably a good idea to try in a shop first with support. I think it would be easier for me to use my android tablet for anything online now though and put some security on it. Thanks.

sausage_time

Some good general advice here:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/stop-scams/

friolento

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034658#Comment_82034658

of the retailers you listed, I would happily buy from all online or their app except eBay. Too many shady sellers on there.

friolento

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035951#Comment_82035951

did you try to get a refund from Amazon? On the very few occasions I had reason to complain about a product or a seller, Amazon have been excellent and reimbursed without many questions.

You are of course right, checking the reviews before ordering is always recommended