Fake goods - you're at risk
Fashion merchandise, DVDs and electrical goods are just some of the types of fakes often purchased online. The people who buy these goods are often unsuspecting and think they are getting a genuine product.
Identity theft and credit card fraud
Entering your debit or credit card details into a website that deals in fakes means that you are essentially giving your card details, your address and your name to criminals.
To ensure your card details remain safe, make sure that you only buy goods online from authorised retailers. Getting a pair of shoes for half price may seem like a quick bargain but now that you know that you're putting your bank card at risk you’ve got to ask – “Is it really worth it?”
Know your rights
If you buy online from businesses registered in the UK you are legally entitled to return any goods bought within seven days (even if you just change your mind). You are also entitled to return the goods if they are faulty.
If you buy an item and realise it’s a fake, getting a refund can be difficult. Often fakes are sold through websites based outside UK; these websites aren’t subject to the same laws as sites based here.
Shopping online
If you are going to shop online:
Buying from companies registered in the UK can
help keep you safe as you’ll have more legal rights. - Try and buy from a brand’s official website or from an authorised seller of the product.
- ‘https’ on the web site address means the site is secure - the ‘s’ in https stands for secure. The padlock on the payment screen is also a mark of security.
- Just because a URL ends in .co.uk doesn’t mean the business is registered in the UK.
- Search web addresses using Who Is – a database of who owns what domain names and where they are based or go to the UK’s register of domain names at www.nominet.org.uk. You can also click on ‘Howard’ the Online Shopping Assistant at www.ukecc.net.
- Always take a copy of the web pages and keep any correspondence as evidence, either electronically or on paper.
- Using a credit card for payments over £100 will also provide extra security.