Spot these shopping scams

Most of us love the convenience, selection, and deals of shopping online. And scammers know it—setting up their own e-commerce websites, messages and schemes to try and steal your money and information.

That's why we shoppers need to be extra vigilant and use these safe spending habits recommended by our experts to avoid fraud.

1. Don't rush to buy. Researching a purchase gives you time to verify the legitimacy of websites and offers before sending your money. Fraudsters will create an urgent reason to encourage hasty decisions, especially during holidays. Be cautious of high-pressure sales tactics.
2. Question any "too good to be true" prices. Scammers often use enticing offers to trap you, particularly on classified and marketplace platforms. Use caution around unusually-great sounding deals and deep discounts.
3. Verify senders. Phishing emails and text messages are often used by fraudsters to impersonate legitimate companies. Responding to fake messages or clicking on their links can lead you to exposing your personal or financial information to a criminal. Learn more about how to identify phishing.
4. Lower your exposure. Limiting the number of bank and credit cards and identification you carry can help reduce your risk if your wallet goes missing. Consider digital payment options, like Apple Pay, to protect your card information. And avoid saving credit card details on websites when shopping online.

We're always here to help you protect your finances and personal information. Use these tips to make informed purchasing decisions, and get in touch if you have questions or suspect you've been targeted by a fraudster.

For more ways to protect your money, visit our online security centre.