Bank of Ireland is warning consumers to be especially vigilant for fraud on Black Friday (24 November) and Cyber Monday (27 November).
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are key online shopping dates for many consumers, which also means that fraudsters will be stepping up their activity.
New research conducted by Bank of Ireland shows that customers spent 54% more online during Black Friday last year, compared to a standard Friday, with clothing showing a 104% increase and electrical goods showing a 100% increase in sales.
Nicola Sadlier, head of fraud, Bank of Ireland, stated, “Fraudsters like to inject an element of urgency into their offers or fake adverts, but don’t rush a transaction without checking things properly first.
“Verify if websites and apps are legitimate and be extremely careful with online adverts, texts or emails.
“Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably fraud.”
For those shopping online this Black Friday or Cyber Monday, Bank of Ireland has provided tips to consumers to ensure that they stay safe.
Bank of Ireland’s Top Five Tips
1/ Be Careful With Links In Emails And Texts
Fake links can lead to fake websites, where you may be asked to share your personal banking details, including activation codes.
Do not share your banking details, including your full online banking PIN, or other personal information.
2/ Think Before You Click
Make sure that you double check website addresses for anything unusual.
3/ Use Trusted Websites
Check that the ‘https’ and the lock symbol are displayed. Exercise caution with pop-ups on your social-media feed (fraudsters can pay to have their ads in front of you).
4/ On A Mobile Device, Use Trusted Apps
It can be difficult to see the full web address on a mobile if you are using a web browser, so, instead, stick with trusted apps.
5/ Antivirus Software
Use up-to-date antivirus software on your computer – this will help protect it against malware.
