The Crime Prevention Website

From Action Fraud

This Christmas, Action Fraud, the City of London Police and Get Safe Online have joined forces to launch a national campaign warning people that online crime is most definitely coming to town. 

This is in light of figures from last Christmas which show that individuals and businesses reported losing £16,426,989 to online fraudsters through online shopping and auction fraud . This is a 42% increase in total financial loss compared with the 2013 festive period where £9,522,491 was lost by victims. 

Last year’s report shows that the most common time for victims to initially make contact with the fraudster was on 28 November- Black Friday (221 victims) and 1 December - Cyber Monday (205 victims), as people head online to try and bag the best festive bargains out there. This serves as a warning to consumers to be extra vigilant on these key Christmas shopping days as online fraudsters are watching and waiting to capitalise on the biggest shopping frenzies of the year. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t the only days fraudsters are taking advantage of, they also make the most of last minute shoppers; 220 people said they were stung by fraudsters between 20-23 December last year when they were trying to buy last minute presents. 

The most common item being bought and sold by victims and fraudsters were mobile phones. People reported trying to get good deals on some of the most popular models of smart phones, but what they thought was going to be a bargain never actually arrived leaving them without presents to give on Christmas day. Others reported being defrauded whilst trying to buy footwear, clothing, watches, gaming consoles, computers, furniture and home electricals. 

People across the country were hit by online shopping and auction fraud, with the most victims living in London and the West Midlands. 

In light of these worrying statistics, on Monday 23 November the City of London Police, Action Fraud and Get Safe Online launched a national fraud prevention campaign which will be supported by police forces across the country. 

The campaign will last for 10 working days and will provide practical fraud and cyber crime protection tips which aim to prevent people from getting conned out of the Christmas that they deserve.

To report a fraud and receive a police crime reference number, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.

Read the rest http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/online-crime-is-coming-to-town-victims-of-online-shopping-fraud-lost-16-million-to-cyber-crooks-last-christmas-nov15 

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