Safe online shopping

Online shopping can save time, money and trips into town. But scammers are busy too – especially around Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. These tips will help you shop safely at any time of year.

Pay the safe way

• Pay by credit card if you can. For purchases between £100 and £30,000, your credit card company is jointly responsible if things go wrong, so you have extra protection.
• PayPal and debit cards also give you some protection.
• Never pay by bank transfer to a seller you don't know, however desperate you are for that item. If it turns out to be a scam, it can be much harder to get your money back. The same goes for holidays, travel and tickets.

Make sure the website is genuine

• Fraudsters can set up fake websites that look almost identical to the real thing. Check the web address carefully – see our article Is this website genuine?
• Type the web address in yourself, rather than clicking a link in an email, text or social media post.
• Use Get Safe Online's free checker: www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite (opens in a new tab)
• A padlock in the address bar means the connection is secure – but it doesn't prove the website is honest. Scam websites can have padlocks too.

Be careful on social media

Facebook Marketplace and social media adverts are popular places to buy gifts, tickets and holidays. Many are genuine, but many are not.

• Be extra cautious with adverts and sellers you don't know.
• On Marketplace, it's safest to see the item and pay in person.
• Watch out for fake "giveaways" and prize draws.

Too good to be true?

• An unbelievable price usually means a scam – or a fake product. Counterfeit goods are poor quality and can be unsafe, especially electrical items, cosmetics and toys.
• Read reviews on independent websites, not only on the seller's own page. Be wary of lots of short, five-star reviews written in the same style.
• In sales, check the price really is lower. Some "deals" are no cheaper than usual.

Watch the small print

"Free" or "£1" trials – for anything from phone deals to slimming pills – can sign you up to expensive monthly payments that are hard to cancel. Read the terms before you enter your card details.

Delivery texts and emails

Messages claiming a parcel is waiting, or that you need to pay a small redelivery fee, are very common scams. Keep a note of what you've ordered and which delivery company is bringing it, and check using the retailer's own website or app.

Booking holidays

Research holidays, flights and accommodation carefully. Check that travel companies are members of ABTA or covered by ATOL, and pay by credit card for extra protection.

If something goes wrong

If you think you've paid a scammer, contact your bank straight away – the quicker you act, the better your chance of getting your money back.

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Think you've been scammed?

• Contact your bank straight away, or call 159 to reach your bank's fraud team.
• Report it to Report Fraud (which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025): reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.
• Forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
• Forward scam texts to 7726 – it's free, and goes to your mobile network.
• For support, contact Victim Support: www.victimsupport.org.uk (opens in a new tab) or 08 08 16 89 111.

Please don't feel embarrassed – scammers are professionals who fool people every day. Reporting helps stop them.

Need a hand?

Not sure whether something is a scam? Bring it along and we'll check it with you. Our friendly volunteers can help at our free sessions:

• Mondays 10am–12noon – St Wilfrid's Church Hall, Burgess Hill
• Thursdays 10am–12noon – Spire Café, St John's Church, Burgess Hill
• Haywards Heath – Bentswood @ No.34, America Lane (by appointment)

Call 07349 916841 or email spire.computer.help@gmail.com. No question is too small.

The Spire Computer Help Team