Criminals persuade consumers to pay for goods and services that don’t exist. These are often advertised on fake websites, auction sites or social media with images taken from genuine sellers. They do this to convince you they’re the real deal.
To protect yourself:
- Research the company and read reviews before making a purchase.
- Never share your one-time passcode with anyone.
- Be cautious of adverts on social media as they may not always be real.
- When making a payment to an online retailer or auction site, make sure you use a secure method like a credit card or PayPal. Don’t pay for online bills with vouchers.
- Make sure you’re using the genuine company’s website and not a cloned one. The Get Safe Online website tool can help you with this.
Just so you know, you can report a suspicious website to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
To learn about more scams, take a look at The Little Book of Big Scams.
