Shopping safe online

Staying safe online

• Look for the padlock – secure websites (those with HTTPS rather than HTTP in the web address) will show a padlock icon at the top of the browser.
• Things that seem too good to be true usually are! Think carefully when you see adverts with incredible deals. Chances are, there’s no dream holiday or free jacuzzi to be won. If you’re asked to enter your personal data, along with your account number and/or password, it’s unlikely to be a genuine offer and your account details may be stolen and used to commit fraud.

If you'd like more information, try these websites:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/

https://ico.org.uk

https://www.cyberaware.gov.uk/

Passwords and privacy settings

• Set 'strong' passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols (e.g. !*&£$)
• Don’t use the same password for everything
• Try to avoid words that can be guessed or people’s names. Passwords like this can be easily hacked
• If you've been a victim of fraud, make sure you reset ALL your passwords, particularly for your email address(es)
• Set the privacy settings on your social media accounts to High

Social media

• Be cautious of social media posts advertising competitions or voucher giveaways. Our website will always confirm our genuine offers.

By phone

• Don't give any information out if you're unsure who is calling
• Your bank will never call you asking for personal information, such as your card number or the expiry date
• Simply end the call – you should never give out personal information over the phone

Other ways to protect yourself include:

Shredding documents that are no longer required, such as bank and other credit statements, household bills and receipts that may show your name, address and other personal details.

• Storing any documents containing personal information in a safe and secure place
• Immediately reporting if your passport, driving licence, cards or other personal documents have been lost or stolen to the organisation that issued the item
• Monitoring your credit report and checking your credit card and bank statements for suspicious activity
• Closing accounts that are no longer required
• Notifying your bank, credit card provider and all other financially relevant companies of any changes to your personal details i.e. name or address
• Contacting Royal Mail if you think your post has been intercepted

If you believe your data may have been compromised and immediate action is required:

Please contact us by clicking the 'Need Help?' button. You can chat with us or leave a message.

Action Fraud

You can also help to tackle fraud by reporting the incident to Action Fraud - the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.