Online Shopping and auction fraud is on the rise. These offices mostly relate to victims ordering and paying for goods which are not received. It can also be investment opportunities such as crypto currency.

Fraudsters often pray on the vulnerable. They are very convincing and often victims feel it’s their fault for not realising, and don’t report the crimes due to this.

Please speak to your relatives and friends and make them aware of potential scams.  The below information may seem confusing for those not familiar with technology. If you have a friend or relative that is not technological minded, then have a conversation with them to assist keep them safe.  

These tips will help minimise any fallout should you be unlucky enough to fall victim to online crime.

If you’re making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know or trust, carry out some research first and ask a friend or family member for advice before completing the purchase. Use websites such as Trust Pilot to gauge the reliability of the seller. 

If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, use a credit card if you have one, as most major credit card providers insure online purchases. Some other payment methods do provide good consumer protection, but they aren't obliged to provide the same protection as a credit card provider. 

Make sure you install the latest software and app updates. These usually contain important security updates that can protect you against fraud and identity theft. 

Information can easily be found about how to install these updates from Apple, Microsoft and Google. Even better, just turn on automatic updates so your device will update itself in future.

Secure your important accounts with a good password - especially your email. Cyber criminals want to hack into your email account. They are looking for valuable information like bank details and the logins for your other online accounts, but they'll also make use of things like your address or date of birth when trying to crack your passwords.

So, you should have a strong password for your email. One that you don't re-use anywhere else. This way, even if an attacker manages to access your email, they won't also be able to log into your online bank account.

Some of the emails or texts you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites, designed to steal your money and personal details. 

Not all links are bad, but if you are unsure don't use the link, go separately to the website.

To give any online account additional protection, where possible, you should turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).

2FA is a way for the service you're using to double check that you really are the person you claim to be, when logging in.

If you have lots of accounts, the temptation to re-use passwords and usernames is pretty strong. A good way to get around this is to use a password manager.

These systems remember all your login details for you, so you can choose good passwords for each of your online accounts, without worrying about losing or forgetting them. The only password you'll need is the one for the password manager application itself. 

You shouldn't need to give out your mother’s maiden name, or the name of your primary school, in order to buy something.

There are some obvious details that an online store will need, such as your address and your bank details, but be cautious if they ask for details that are not required for your purchase. 

If you think you may have been taken in by a bogus website, you should first, take a note of the website's address, then close down your internet browser. Then report the details to Action Fraud and contact your bank to seek advice.

Whether you've been a victim of fraud will depend on how much information you’ve provided to the website. So, keep an eye on bank transactions, if you can.