Research from Virgin Media O2 estimates £3.9 billion will be spent during the month of November, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday take a grip of consumers’ wallets. Purchases across electronics (52%), clothing (49%) and home appliances (46%) are expected to be the most popular, and while November may offer consumers significant savings, it’s vital that they remain vigilant to avoid scammers looking to take advantage.
To help consumers stay safe while they shop, Virgin Media O2 is sharing tips which have been backed by the National Cyber Security Centre, who are advising Britons to protect themselves this Black Friday by having a 2-step verification on their banking app, something that nearly one in five shoppers (18%) don’t have according to research by Virgin Media O2.
The research also found that shoppers may be risking their banking security, with over two in five (21%) admitting they’ve sent their loved ones a photograph of their bank details. This puts them at risk if their phone was ever lost or stolen and could make their finances more easily accessible to the thief.
According to data provided by Action Fraud during the festive period last year (November 2023 and January 2024), a total of £11.5 mil was lost due to online shopping and auction fraud, impacting 16,566 people.
Gareth Lister, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, is sharing some top tips to stay safe whilst online shopping throughout November and December:
- Double your defensive with 2-step verification: Add an extra layer of security to your important accounts by adding a 2-step verification. This gives you the power to verify any large purchase coming out of your bank account and should stop scammers in their tracks if they do have access to your card details.
- Don’t share your details via text: If you’re in a hurry to secure a good deal but are unable to make the purchase yourself, i.e. if you’re in a meeting at work and urgently need someone you trust to checkout on your behalf, avoid sending them your bank details or a picture of your bank card via text. Just as we’re advised to shred sensitive documents, avoid leaving personal information like your banking details vulnerable should your phone, or your confidants, be stolen.
- Be a master of your card: If the deal looks too good to be true, stop and think. It could be a scam. Look out for tell-tale signs such as typos in email offers or odd requests from a phone call fraudster impersonating a company that “needs your personal information”. Be confident in hanging up if something doesn’t feel right and contact the company directly to confirm if it’s real or not. For example, O2, like many other companies, will never ask a customer for their one-time passcode or bank details over the phone.
- Stop, drop and report: Should you receive a suspicious call, or text, report the number by forwarding it to 7726 and then block the number as quickly as possible. For email reports, forward the email onto spam@o2.com. This helps mobile companies like O2 to block the number and prevent further fraudulent calls in future. You can also report it through: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
- Royal fail: Don’t be tricked by fake emails asking you to pay delivery for a product you didn’t order or have already paid the delivery for! Be sure to check your order confirmation and delivery emails thoroughly and keep on top of genuine purchases you’ve made during the Black Friday sales. If you do receive an email asking you to pay for a delivery, don’t reply or click on any links. Instead, contact the company you purchased the item from and check if you’ve already paid.
- Keep up to date with security software: Protecting your devices is always important, but even more so during peak purchasing periods where you may be online a little more than usual. Virgin Media broadband packages come with Essential Security as standard, and at no extra cost, giving customers peace of mind that their devices are covered whenever they’re connected to their home network. For those also after on-to-go protection, Virgin Media offers Advanced Security. This service is currently available to all Virgin Media customers with a hassle-free three-month trial*.
Visit the Stop! Think Fraud webpage for more info on how to protect yourself from online scams. Virgin Media O2’s Black Friday deals can be found here: Virgin Media O2 | Supercharged Volt Bundles – Official Site
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Research by Strand Partners, the online survey of 1,020 people in the UK representative by age, gender, and NUTs 1 region. Fieldwork dates: 07.11.24 – 08.11.24.
* Advanced and Essential Security: Essential and Advanced Security | £0 Setup | Virgin Media
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