Many citizens buy their Christmas presents online.

Online shopping is a lucrative business for criminals. They use fake sales platforms (fake shops) to defraud online buyers of goods and money. According to nationwide police crime statistics, 154,773 cases of fraud via online shopping were identified in 2018 alone. Of this, 35.3% is attributable to goods fraud, in which goods ordered were either delivered in inferior quality or not delivered at all. To protect consumers, the police give tips for safe online shopping.

Dangers of online shopping
Image source: PP/Freiburg Police Headquarters

Convenient and fast – online shopping is a real alternative to local retail for many people. “However, when hunting for digital bargains, it is not just the price that should be crucial, but above all security,” says Harald Schmidt, head of police crime prevention at the state and federal levels. “We advise all online shoppers to exercise caution. Fake shops cannot always be recognized at first glance. The fraudsters also create legitimate-looking sales platforms that can only be recognized by their particularly low prices. That’s why we recommend paying attention to prices, payment methods or the right of withdrawal before purchasing.”

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Here's what you should pay attention to when shopping online for Christmas:

  • Avoid impulse purchases. Compare prices, especially from local providers.
  • Be careful with extremely low prices. This could be an indication of a fake shop.
  • Make sure you use secure payment methods on the online platform. Prefer purchasing on account.
  • Always ensure that you have a secure internet connection (https) when you transmit personal data to the online shop.
  • Contact the police if you suspect you have been the victim of a scam.

Further information can also be found at: https://www.polizei-beratung.de/opferinformation/cybercrime/

Source: PP/Police Headquarters Freiburg
Article image: pathdoc / Shutterstock

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