ONLINE shopping is set to surge as Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales begin and people start snapping up presents - but fraudsters could ruin Christmas for many.

Wiltshire Police and Action Fraud have warned shoppers of the risks posed by going online and gave advice about ways to minimise the chance of falling foul of cyber-criminals.

Around 28,000 people reported falling victim to online shopping fraud with losses coming in at a total of £15.4 million during the festive period in 2020.

Detective Sergeant Sean Tregunna said: “Many people will be turning to the internet to grab themselves a bargain, there will be retailers trying to bid for your attention, and sales at every turn.

"Criminals are incredibly aware of this and use it to their advantage so it’s important to take your time, and don’t let yourself be rushed.

"Lesser known, but common mistakes are using public WiFi to make purchases which could be more easily intercepted, or convincing looking offers on social media, which don’t even exist. 

“It’s an exciting time of course, to be planning for the festivities ahead, but it’s important to remember the basics, don’t get caught out by scammers aiming to benefit from the extra time we’re spending online.”

Reported problems consumers have with online shopping range from scams and defective goods to not knowing their consumer rights and struggling to get refunds.

Be aware when buying from the likes of eBay and Facebook Marketplace. When using PayPal, don’t agree to tick that box of paying trusted friends unless it really is someone you know because you are not covered if that item does not appear.

Online shopping has provided the perfect conditions for fraudsters to take advantage of vulnerable people by conning them out of large sums of money. Courier fraud, romance fraud, fake phishing emails and scam phone calls have all been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.

Having regular conversations with less internet aware, often older people, could easily help prevent someone you know becoming a victim of these fraudsters. Prevention is always our preferred strategy - let’s curtail these scams and do all we can to shop online safely this festive season.

Wiltshire Police fraud manager Alison Wiles offered these top tips:

-Make sure your shopping and online financial platforms are secure with strong passwords which you never share

-Check the website you’re on is legitimate

-Be on the lookout for potential phishing emails or text messages with direct links - do not click them, go through the retailer's website instead

-Be extra wary of sites you haven’t used before. Do some research first - internet searches may provide helpful information about current scams.

She added: “Older or less technically minded people living alone are most at risk. We’d like to ask those in our communities who are more savvy when it comes to online shopping or fraud to look out for your less knowledgeable friends, family or neighbours. It could make a huge difference.”

Fraud victims should report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk