Campaign will tackle online fraudsters

Working in partnership with the City of London Police, Lancashire Constabulary will be looking at the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of online shopping.

So far in 2014, 74% of all adults nationwide have bought goods or services online, and this December around 50% of UK citizens are expected to use the internet to buy more than half of their Christmas presents.

The majority of people will still have presents delivered to their doorstep or into their email account without a hitch.

However, the reality is there will also be tens of thousands of people across the UK whose Christmas will be damaged, and in some cases destroyed, after finding out they have fallen foul of heartless criminals who specialise in tricking internet users with the promise of great online deals and big cash savings.

Following ‘Black Friday’, the focus will be on ‘Cyber Monday’ and the hazards of opening Christmas e-Cards sent via email which, unknown to the recipient, may be carrying a virus (malware) that can embed itself and then corrupt their smart phone, tablet or laptop.

Over the following two weeks, Lancashire Constabulary, along with other forces and organisations, will look at the threat of ten more online festive frauds, identified by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), as part of ‘The 12 online frauds of Christmas’ campaign.