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Top tips to shop online securely this Christmas

Online shopping scams cost shoppers £15.4 million over the Christmas period last year.
New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year – an increase of almost two thirds (61 per cent) when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online as reports of online shopping fraud have continued to surge. Here are some simple tips to help you and your family enjoy a secure online shopping experience this festive season.

Where to shop

Buying from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase.

Your information

Only create an account if necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.

Payment method

When it’s time to pay for your items, check there’s a ‘closed padlock’ icon in the browser’s address bar. Use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases.

Phishing

Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you’re unsure about a link, don’t use the it – go separately to the website. Report suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726.

Email accounts:

Make sure that your really important accounts (such as your email account or online shopping accounts) are protected by strong passwords that you don’t use anywhere else.
Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, BT, AOL Mail.

If things go wrong

If you’ve lost money to an online shopping scam, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland). By doing this, you’ll be helping to prevent others becoming victims of cyber crime.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.

 

Action Fraud
(Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Tameside Independent Advisory Group (IAG) receives Chief Constables Special Recognition Award from GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson

“Through the dedication of its members over the past twelve months, Tameside IAG has become a shining example of “community ”
This group of volunteers worked together to foster positive relationships and provide community confidence and cohesion after a number of incidents threatening community unrest.
Their work has been recognised as “gold standard” by chief officers and the local authority 

Tameside MBC Community Safety Team

Tameside MBC Community safety team are asking people to show their commitment to road safety by signing the pledge – for which you get a free window sticker in return.

You can sign up online at www.tameside.gov.uk/roadsafety

Manchester Community Watch
October 2021 Magazine.

Scam Alert

We have been made aware of an ongoing scam.

Fraudsters are making bogus calls to victims, claiming to be phoning from a GMP police station, and demanding that the victim transfers money into a bank account. The fraudsters are able to use a genuine GMP police station telephone number – a scam called ‘spoofing’. This is when a different number shows up on your caller ID than the number someone is really calling from. Never rely on your caller ID to confirm someone’s identity!

Remember – never give out your personal details or bank information to anyone you do not know or trust. If you suspect a scam contact Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Scam Alert

#ScamAlert Fraudsters are advertising multi-level investment schemes that offer extraordinary profits for little or no risk. Ponzi schemes are created for all levels of income, and have taken in investors in the top bracket as well as those on middle and low levels. Typically, the fraudster will vanish with investors’ money, so the system eventually collapses with later investors receiving nothing – including their initial investment.

Click for full image

Tameside Neighbourhood watch has had two fabulous banner stands created. These were recently used at a Neighbourhood Watch & Community event.

We now have available a digital copy of the Tameside Neighbourhood Watch Handbook for neighbourhood watch coordinators and residents. View it online at www.tamesidenwahandbook.co.uk