Shopping, Banking & Payments

Counterfeit goods – fake products deliberately made to seem genuine – have been produced and sold for many, many years, but the growth of the internet has made it easier for more counterfeiters to sell more goods to more...

A voucher or gift card scam takes place when unsuspecting victims are approached by fraudsters and persuaded to pay bills, fees or debts using iTunes gift cards or other vouchers....

Loyalty schemes operated by retail, hospitality, entertainment, travel and dedicated card businesses have become very popular to the extent that they represent a billion-pound industry. Schemes vary in how they operate: some...

A number of websites have sprung up offering call recording services, whereby calls you make to an organisation can be recorded and stored, so that you can prove what was said in the conversation in the event of disputes. You...

Subscription traps take place when you sign up online or on the phone for free or low-cost trials of products, only to find that you have been unwittingly locked into costly repeat payments. Typically, these products are slimming...

Mobile banking – using banking apps or mobile websites on smartphones and tablets – is growing rapidly in popularity as people realise the benefits of the convenience of checking accounts, transferring money and making...

Account takeover takes place when a fraudster or computer criminal poses as a genuine customer, gains control of an account and then makes unauthorised transactions. Any account – including bank, credit card, email and other...

Banking online is very convenient but you must protect your password and personal details to prevent criminals from accessing your account in your name....

Contactless technology is becoming increasingly commonplace as a means of making payments or sending information. The process – enabled by a technology known as Near Field Communication (NFC) – works by means of a wireless...

The work carried out by charities and voluntary organisations is invaluable to society, helping people in the greatest need both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Charities rely on donations from the general public and businesses...

There are many situations in which you may be asked to transfer money to other people – whether it is for travel, education, family emergencies, or family support. There are a number of long-established, highly respectable...

Price comparison or ‘aggregator’ sites have grown enormously in popularity in recent years. In general, they represent a major step forward – enabling you to secure better value when buying insurance, financial services,...

A ‘penny auction’ (the popular name for bidding fee auction) is an online shopping method where everyone taking part pays a small, non-refundable fee each time they place a bid on an item. When the auction expires, the last...

Stay safe when buying or selling vehicles online It has never been easier to buy or sell a vehicle than it is now ... thanks to the internet. The ability to upload and view photos and vehicle descriptions, and contact buyers and...

The internet offers a vast array of products for sale from websites all over the world. Buying medicines online is becoming increasingly popular, but medicines are not ordinary consumer goods and extreme caution should be...

Watching your favourite band, team or stand-up comic from the comfort of your armchair is great, but it’s nothing like being there live, on the day.  Tickets to big entertainment and sporting events sell out very quickly,...

Using the internet to make payments to utility, phone, credit card, insurance and other companies saves considerable time and effort. It is also a simple and convenient way to contribute to charity either directly or sponsoring...

Using the internet to purchase goods or services saves considerable time and effort – and also presents you with the widest choice. There are, however, risks associated with online shopping and you need to take care with what...

Online auction sites are a highly popular way of buying and selling both new and second hand goods. There are, however, risks associated with using auction sites – some of which are different from normal online shopping....

Telephone banking fraud is a scam which is becoming increasingly commonplace. The fraudsters do not actually scam their victims online, but use the telephone to do so. Here’s how it works:...

Copycat websites are those which offer services from government departments or local government, but are not the official site and charge an often substantial premium for those services, often with no tangible benefit to the...