Stay safe online while you shop the sales

THE best way to find great Cyber Monday deals while avoiding scams is to check the website that you are buying from is secure.

When you’re going through the payment process, the website address should switch from http:// to https:// (the s stands for ‘secure’) and show a closed padlock icon, which means any payments on the site will be made safely.

You should also check that your anti-virus software is up-to-date, so it can flag up or block anything deemed suspicious.

Shop with familiar brands, says Anita Naik from VoucherCodes. co.uk. ‘If it’s a smaller site that doesn’t look legitimate, it probably isn’t. Reputable sites will be visible across social media, posting regularly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also check that the email address any offers are sent from is what you would expect.’

Finally, if you later regret any online sale purchases, remember that you legally have a cooling-off period of 14 days after you receive your items. This means you have the right to cancel an order for any reason within this period.