DON’T FALL VICTIM TO CONMEN

HARRY ROSE, the editor of Which? Money, says: ‘We did a recent investigation which showed how easy it is for fraudsters to send texts that pretend to be from shops offering bargains. Consumers must be extra vigilant this Black Friday and think twice before clicking on the link in any unsolicited messages.’

1. DON’T give any website your credit card PIN for any reason and try to buy only from those you know and trust.

2. DON’T rush into a decision. If you feel pressurised by a website — many retailers use tools such as a ticking clock or a ‘just one left’ banner to make you feel that you need to act swiftly — then you should take a step back.

3. DO THEIR contact numbers look bona fide? If they have a PO box number rather than a proper address, or they only offer a mobile number or premium-rate ‘09’ phone line, they may be fine — but if alarm bells ring, don’t proceed. If you don’t know a brand, be especially cautious.

4. DON’T necessarily trust social media — if it sounds too good to be true on Twitter or WhatsApp, then it probably is!

5. IF YOU do fall foul and are affected by a data breach, change any passwords linked to the account or website in question. Keep an eye on bank accounts and complain to the company that lost your data.