Online wallets need cyber-security

The internet makes festive shopping quick and easy, but the majority of cyber-customers leave themselves dangerously exposed to fraudsters.

According to the British Retail Consortium, last December almost a fifth of Christmas shopping took place online rather than face to face, and the amount spent on non-food items over the internet was up by the same proportion on the year before.

Helen Dickinson, its director general, puts this down to a combination of improved technology and service.

She said: ??The surge in the use of tablets and smartphones, together with the ever faster delivery times achieved by an increasing number of retailers, have provided a new spur of growth to online shopping.

??Retailers have invested significantly in their websites and delivery times, and this enhanced offer clearly struck a chord with customers who valued flexibility, choice and convenience whenever and wherever they did their shopping."

However, while no one would knowingly walk down the High Street with their bag gaping open and purse or wallet on show, most shoppers leave themselves vulnerable when they venture online.

The Government??s National Cyber Security Consumer Tracker found only 44 per cent always install internet security software on new equipment, while only 37 per cent download updates and patches for personal computers when prompted ?? and this falls to just 21 per cent for smartphones and mobile devices.

Only 30 per cent use complex passwords to protect online accounts, and just 43 per cent check sites are secure before making a purchase.

To stay safe online, never shop from an unfamiliar or shared computer. Ensure security software is up-to-date, create strong passwords and stick to trustworthy sites.

Fraudsters often create copycat sites to trick people into handing over financial information. An email designed to look as if it is from a plausible source will include a link to a fake version of a popular site, where customers will be encouraged to enter their details.

To avoid being taken in, be wary of emails containing special offers or discounts, and never click on links they contain. Spelling and grammatical mistakes are often clues they are not the real thing.

If you want to check the site, type the address directly into your browser. If the prices seem too good to be true, or anything else doesn??t feel quite right, close the page. You could end up with counterfeit goods ?? or an empty bank account.

Before making a purchase, read the seller??s terms and conditions, delivery information and returns policy, and make a note of their contact details in case of problems. Reputable businesses will provide a head office address, not just a PO box, email address or mobile number.

Before inputting your payment details, check for a locked padlock symbol in the browser frame. This confirms your information will be transmitted securely. If the address starts with ??https??, the ??s?? also means it is secure.

For large purchases, paying by credit rather than debit card gives additional protection if something goes wrong. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, credit card providers are jointly liable with retailers for goods or services costing £100 or over. This means if there is a problem getting a refund, say because the seller has gone bust, you can pursue the card company.

For smaller purchases, consider using PayPal. It takes minutes to create an account, doesn??t cost anything and enables you to shop without divulging your financial details to the retailer. For more information, see PayPal.com.

When you finish shopping, make sure you log out of the site, and save the confirmation email as proof of what you have bought and paid for.

YOUR RIGHTS

*If your goods don??t turn up within a ??reasonable time??, you can claim a refund. The consumer rights section of Which.co.uk includes template letters to use in this and a range of other situations.

*If a delivery goes missing after being left with a neighbour without your permission, the retailer must re-send the goods at no extra cost. Sellers must also refund or replace items damaged in transit, even if the delivery was signed for.

*If you change your mind about an order, you can contract the retailer to cancel up to 14 days after receiving the goods.

*However, tailor-made or personalised goods, perishables such as food and flowers, and CDs, DVDs or software with broken seals can??t go back, unless they are faulty or not as described or ordered.

*Any item ordered must be ??fit for purpose??, as described and of satisfactory quality. If it isn??t, you have a ??reasonable time?? to return it, depending on the product and obviousness of the fault.

*In this situation, the retailer must collect it or refund the postage. You don??t have to accept a repair, exchange, voucher or credit note if you don??t want to, and your money must be refunded within 30 days.

*If you return something simply because you no longer want it, and the website or paperwork doesn??t explain who pays postage, the retailer must cover it.