One in five regular online shoppers* said they have lost money through online scams in the past twelve months, according to new research published today by FraudSMART, the awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), with some losses running into hundreds of euros. The research comes as FraudSMART launches its new Scamchecker.ie tool to mark Cyber Monday, offering shoppers an easy way to check whether a website or link is legitimate before making online purchases.
Eight out of ten consumers plan to shop online in the run up to Christmas
Speaking about the survey findings and how consumers can get caught out online, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI said: “Our research shows that that eight out of ten consumers plan to shop online in the run up to Christmas, with only 3% saying they never shop online. During this peak online shopping period there is an increased risk to shoppers, with fraudsters primed to take advantage of Cyber Monday and the Christmas rush. Scammers often use contaminated links hidden within emails, social media and online adverts which lead unsuspecting shoppers to counterfeit websites. These fake sites often impersonate well-known stores or brands offering ‘discounted deals’ to entice people, only to disappear after a shopper has made a payment, leaving them without their purchases and out of pocket.”
One in five shoppers admit to not taking basic security precautions when shopping online
Ms Davenport continued: “Worryingly, our research today also highlights that one in five shoppers admit to not taking basic security precautions when shopping online. These precautions include checking for a secure connection (e.g., a ‘https’ and a padlock image at the beginning of the web address) and avoiding the use of public wi-fi for payments. Almost 50% of online shoppers confess to clicking on links from social media or pop-up ads instead of independently visiting and checking the website of the company. With more than one in ten shoppers who have lost money in an online scam, reporting losses of over €500, we are calling on people to be extra vigilant as the Christmas shopping season ramps up, especially with Cyber Monday deals flooding inboxes and social media feeds.”
FraudSMART launches Scamchecker.ie to help shoppers avoid getting stung online
Responding to the increased risks, Ms Davenport announced: “In light of our findings and in order to help consumers look out for potential scams, FraudSMART has today launched Scamchecker.ie, a new tool which offers shoppers an easy way to check the legitimacy of websites or links before they make a purchase. By cross-referencing the link with a real-time database of known scam sites and malware hosts, Scamchecker.ie offers shoppers valuable information to help make an informed decision before making a purchase online. In combination with other precautions, it’s a simple but effective tool that can help avoid getting stung online this Christmas period. The launch is also being supported by a national radio, digital and social media advertising campaign to raise awareness amongst the public.”
Ms Davenport concluded: “We are calling on all consumers to pause for thought before parting with their money or information online and familiarise themselves with some of the very straight forward steps they can take to protect themselves.”
Top tips for shopping safely online this Christmas
- Look for a padlock symbol beside the website address, which indicates the site is secure.
- Ensure the web address begins with ‘https’.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making online payments; always switch to a personal network like 3G or 4G.
- Avoid clicking on links from social media or pop-up ads; instead, type the website address directly into your browser.
- Beware of deals that seem too good to be true – they usually are.
- Stick to well-known websites or retailers that you are familiar with.
- Use Scamchecker.ie to verify the legitimacy of a website before making a purchase.
*Those who shop online at least once a month or more
The BPFI Online Shopping and Fraud Survey was conducted in November 2024 by Core Research amongst a nationally representative online sample of 1,000 people.
