Buyer beware: Gardaí advise Irish online shoppers to 'be cautious' this Black Friday

Crime prevention officer issues advise ahead of busy weekend for online shopping

An Garda Síochana is advising online shoppers around Ireland to "be cautious" and protect themselves against fruadulent sales this Black Friday.

"Pay attention to your own instincts – If you have any doubts about giving out your card details, end the transaction and purchase your goods elsewhere," said Sergeant Catriona Holohan, Crime Prevention Officer at Ennis garda station in county Clare.

Use secure websites
Make sure the website you are on is real – not cloned or fake and your internet access is secure.

There should be an "https" at the beginning of the web address and a padlock symbol displayed beside the URL before the purchase is made - this indicates a secure connection.

Don’t enter into off site communication for a lower cash price, and never purchase through social media or where the ‘offer’ came to you via social media.

Independently visit the website of the online sales company as opposed to clicking on social media or pop-up adverts, and check for poor English and spelling / grammar mistakes.

Know the website’s policy on refunds and know your consumer rights
Where selling platforms offer an official, safe way of paying, use this rather than sending money directly to a third party – otherwise Use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.

Check their payment methods, which should be credit cards. Never transfer money direct or pay cash.

Read the Terms and Conditions 
Ensure you are fully aware of any payment commitments you are entering into, including whether you are instructing a single payment or a series of recurring payments.

Be particularly careful to read the terms and conditions when signing up for a free trial that requests your credit or debit card details.

Paid subscriptions can automatically kick-in at the end of the free trial so check for any cancellation policy.

Keep your computer and security up to date
Install a reliable antivirus and browser security software. Ensure it has the latest updates and that it scans your computer regularly to check for malware.

Make sure your browser is set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring. These safety options are not always activated by default when you purchase and install your computer.

Do not under any circumstances use public Wi-Fi when making payments - switch to 3G/4G on your phone if necessary.

"Always keep a record of your purchase, print or save a copy of your order," Sergeant Holohan advised.

"Be cautious about emails claiming outrageous offers or online ads offering miracle products."