New Scam Checker Website

One in five regular online shoppers lost money through scams in the past year according to new research, as FraudSMART launches 'Scamchecker.ie' for the peak Christmas shopping period

One in five regular online shoppers* said they have lost money through online scams in the past twelve months, according to new research published today by FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), with some losses running into hundreds of euros. The research comes as FraudSMART launches its new Scamchecker.ie tool to mark Cyber Monday, offering shoppers an easy way to check whether a website or link is legitimate before making online purchases.

Eight out of ten consumers plan to shop online in the run-up to Christmas

Speaking about the survey findings and how consumers can get caught out online, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI said: "Our research shows that eight out of ten consumers plan to shop online in the run-up to Christmas, with only 3% saying they never shop online. During this peak online shopping period, there is an increased risk to shoppers, with fraudsters primed to take advantage of Cyber Monday and the Christmas rush. Scammers often use contaminated links hidden within emails, social media, and online adverts which lead unsuspecting shoppers to counterfeit websites. These fake sites often impersonate well-known stores or brands offering 'discounted deals' to entice people, only to disappear after a shopper has made a payment leaving them without their purchases and out of pocket."

One in five shoppers admit to not taking basic security precautions when shopping online

Ms Davenport continued: "Worryingly, our research today also highlights that one in five shoppers admit to not taking basic security precautions when shopping online. These precautions include checking for a secure connection (e.g., a 'https' and a padlock image at the beginning of the web address) and avoiding the use of public wi-fi for payments. Almost 50% of online shoppers confess to clicking on links from social media or pop-up ads instead of independently visiting and checking the website of the company. With more than one in ten shoppers who have lost money in an online scam, reporting losses of over €500, we are calling on people to be extra vigilant as the Christmas shopping season is ramping up, especially with Cyber Monday deals flooding inboxes and social media feeds."

FraudSMART launches Scamchecker.ie to help shoppers check the legitimacy of websites and links

Responding to the increased risks, Ms Davenport announced: "In light of our findings and in order to help consumers look out for potential scams, FraudSMART has today launched Scamchecker.ie, a new tool which offers shoppers an easy way to check the legitimacy of websites or links before they make a purchase. By cross-referencing the link with a real-time database of known scam sites and malware hosts, Scamchecker.ie offers shoppers valuable information to help make an informed decision before making a purchase online. In combination with other precautions, it's a simple but effective tool that can help avoid getting stung online this Christmas period. The launch is also being supported by a national radio, digital and social media advertising campaign to raise awareness amongst the public."

Ms Davenport concluded: "We are calling on all consumers to pause for thought before parting with their money or information online and familiarise themselves with some of the very straight forward steps they can take to protect themselves."

*Those who shop online at least once a month or more