Over 55s: protecting yourself when online shopping
With so many of us conducting our Christmas shopping online, it is more important than ever that all of us, including the over 55s, are keeping themselves safe whilst internet shopping. With Black Friday deals encouraging us to buy now, we must all remain diligent as sadly, the scammers will also be out in force.
Online fraud can happen to anyone. Scarily, 80% of fraud cases are cyber-fraud, (according to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau), so being vigilant is extremely important. This week, the Burnham Waters team share some top tips to help protect yourself whist shopping online.
Too good to be true
If you’re shopping online and find that one specific item for a price that seems too good to be true, chances are it probably is! Online scammers pick popular items and list them at discount prices to lure customers in. A customer thinks they’re getting a deal, when really, they are just providing someone with their payment information. Always check the website URL for misspellings and look for secure checkouts when finalising your purchase.
Shop where you know
Echoing the point above, our advice to over 55s would be to stick to what you know on the web. You’re always better shopping where you’re most comfortable and with reputable retailers. If you want to shop somewhere new, check the reviews first and be very wary of any websites that seem new and are touting ‘last minute deals’. Equally, be mindful of social media sites that don’t have a lot of followers.
Secure website
One of the main indicators of an online shopping scam is an ‘unsecure’ website. These sites are vulnerable to hackers and could be using compromised payment systems that can steal your payment card information.
Secure sites use what’s called SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. This means that any information you enter - name, shipping address, card number - will be masked and can’t be intercepted by hackers. Unsecure sites won’t have these, so hackers could potentially see your payment information – and then use it for themselves.
In the top of the address bar, look for HTTPS and a padlock symbol near the URL. Click on the padlock symbol to check whether the connection is secure, and the encryption certificate is valid.
Create strong passwords
When checking out online, you might be asked to set up an account with a password. Be sure to create one using a mix of upper and lowercase letters symbols and numbers. Set reminders to change your passwords regularly.
One of the easiest ways that people’s shopping accounts are hacked are via social media. Personal information, like your common interests, hometown and even loved one’s names give hackers a great start for guessing passwords. So, randomised formations are sometimes better here, rather than saving ‘golf1964’ for each password, for example.
For over 55s wanting extra security, you can enable two factor authentication to ensure only you can unlock your account. You can also store your credentials in a secure password manager, rather than noting it down on a word document or even on paper, to ensure this information doesn’t get into the wrong hands.
Grammar and spelling
Incorrect grammar and spelling mistakes are tell-tale signs of illegitimacy. We all make typos, but lots of poor spelling, grammatical mistakes and things just not quite making sense could indicate that the website or email you’re looking at is designed to scam.
In an email, a scam email will typically not address you by name and will often make the message sound urgent to panic you. Check the email domain too. No legitimate organisation will send emails from an address that ends ‘@gmail.com’, as this is a public domain. Equally, check the domain for spelling mistakes. Say you’re ordering from John Lewis, a fake domain might be misspelt, for example ‘jonlewis’.
Signed, sealed, delivered
It’s common for deliveries to be missed or rescheduled, especially over the festivities. However, if you get an email or a text that says ‘you’ve missed a delivery and there’s a charge due or your risk losing your parcel’ – don’t click the link to pay! There’s a high chance this is a scam. If you’re not sure, just contact the sender or courier company directly to find out information from a source you trust. They’ll be more than happy to help you and you can rest assured that you’ve not handed over money, or that someone fraudulent has access to your bank details.
Ask for help
For many over 55s, the fear that you might have been subject to a scam can feel overwhelming. If you’re struggling online, simply reach out! In an everchanging digital world, it’s important to gain confidence so that you can use the basics. Asking family and friends their advice when it comes to online shopping could help you avoid fraudsters. If you’re not sure, pick up the phone and of-course, the team at Burnham Waters are always on hand to help on site too. Remember, no question is a silly one, especially when it comes to your personal and financial safety!
Get in touch
Are you interested in becoming part of our forward thinking, luxury retirement community for the over 55s? Our doors are always open, and we’d love to hear from you! Simply reach out via email at info@burnhamwaters.co.uk, or complete our enquiry form today. Our sales and marketing suite is open and we have show homes available to view.
If you’re interested in learning more about our properties, we also offer a downloadable brochure, complete with everything you need to know about our retirement village. You can also call our friendly sales team today on 01621 861559.
Burnham Waters offers the perfect blend of luxurious bungalow living, combined with the comfort and serenity of a rural village community. With the added benefits of on-site amenities and facilities for residents (including fitness suite, swimming pool and tennis court), everything you need is easily accessible and readily available.
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