Cyber Monday scammer warning to Derry's online shoppers

The warning was issued ahead of the expected high volume of people logging on to try and pick up bargains on ‘Cyber Monday’.

In the run up to Christmas however, local Policing and Community Safety Partnerships and the PSNI said people needed to be aware of their safety when shopping online.

Chair of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Councillor Gus Hastings, said:

“At Christmas, some criminals take advantage of people’s goodwill and it’s important to keep aware of how to protect yourself and your money.

“Thieves increasingly work online and can target you as you get your shopping done from the safety of your couch. That makes it even more important for all of us to be aware of what we can do to protect ourselves and our families from becoming victims of crime.

“There are steps you can take to make sure online shopping is safe. You should vary your passwords for each shopping site, always make sure you log out each time and use a new tab when you log in as scammers can find ways to divert pages to dodgy sites. “Only buy from official sources and when using auction websites, use insured payment methods like PayPal and never, ever do bank transfers to people you don’t know.”

He added: “At all times of the year, there are people trying to con you, so be scamwise and if that bargain seems too good to be true, the chances are it is. Don’t get mugged online this Christmas; be scamwise and remember to stay safe.”