Experts at leading online shopping directory www.shopsafe.co.uk are urging shoppers to remember online safety when trying to grab a bargain in the sales.
The risks posed by ignoring basic internet shopping safety are as present as ever during the festive season, but hectic schedules and excitement could mean consumers are less careful when making purchases.
www.shopsafe.co.uk is an online directory visited by, on average, 10,000 people a day accessing 4,000 retailers, including huge names such as House of Fraser, Amazon, Next and Hamleys.
Simon Crisp, director of www.shopsafe.co.uk said: "With some online retailers starting their sales on Christmas Day, the rush of the festivities and excitement at spending vouchers or money gifted by friends and relatives could lead to some hasty purchases.
"However, just because it is Christmas doesn't mean that the potential for fraud goes away. In fact, because of the rush it is feasible that more con artists are plying their trade, in the hope to catch people out.
"It is vital to remember online safety rules, such as paying by credit card for extra protection, or checking for valid retailer contact details, to minimise the dangers which come with shopping online."
www.shopsafe.co.uk's directors have put together a list of helpful do's and don'ts in order to stay safe this year:
- Always print out your order confirmations after you have made a purchase.
- Pay by credit card - this can give you extra protection if anything goes wrong.
- Don't leave the computer unsupervised while shopping online.
- Log out properly at the end of any session.
- Make sure the company has valid contact details before for making a purchase in the event that something goes wrong.
If you see a shopsafe logo on the web site then you know we've checked that the site is safe to use.