While coronavirus regulations in different parts of the country mean that some businesses are closed, more Scots are turning to online platforms to do their Christmas shopping.
But shoppers taking to the web are being warned of the threat posed by cyber criminals after victims lost an average of £775 each last year.
GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is launching a government TV advertising campaign to make people aware of scammers lurking online during the festive period.
Attackers swindled an average of £775 per incident over Christmas 2019.
According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, there were 17,405 reports of online shopping fraud between November 1 2019 and January 31 2020, resulting in a loss of £13.5 million.
READ MORE: High street footfall ‘paltry’ as Scottish coronavirus lockdowns bite, say retailers
Paymaster General Penny Mordaunt said: “This year we have spent more time online than ever before.
“Whether it be working or shopping online, criminals and others often see the internet as another means to cause harm.
“As we approach the Christmas season, we should all be on our guard and take the practical Cyber Aware actions to keep us safe as we work, shop and socialise online.”
A new NCSC website and television advertising campaign will remind people it is important to use a strong and separate password for their email.
They advise users to create strong passwords using three random words and to save passwords in their browser.
It is also recommends that two-factor authentication (2FA) be switched on, devices and apps are kept up to date, and data is backed up.
The campaign is backed by organisations including Microsoft, Vodafone, BT, ASOS, Barclays and Citizens Advice.
NCSC chief executive Lindy Cameron said: “Technology will play an essential role over the festive period, with more people shopping online than ever before.
“Scammers stole millions from internet shoppers last Christmas – but, by following our advice, you can protect yourself from the majority of their crimes.
“We hope the Cyber Aware campaign helps people to shop confidently online and enjoy their Christmas.”
Meanwhile, Police Scotland have urged online shoppers to make sure their web browser and internet security is up to date, to check the website payment page is secure and look for the padlock in the address line before entering any card details.
Police Scotland added that if Scots are away from home over the festive period, or even just out and about Christmas shopping, they should be careful about posting anything on social networking sites that could notify thieves that their house will be empty.
NCSC’s Cyber Aware tips are:
– Use a strong and separate password for your email
– Create strong passwords using three random words
– Save your passwords in your browser
– Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)
– Update your devices and apps
– Back up your data
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here