On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…some good advice about safer online shopping… #FraudFreeXmas

Good afternoon,

Please follow these top tips from colleagues at City of London Police to avoid online shopping scams this festive season:

✅ Research sellers, check they're legitimate.

✅ Use a credit card or secure payment platform.

✅ Only provide enough details to complete your purchase.

For more details about all the above, please see: 👉https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/shopping-online-securely 

Worried that you’ve entered your details into a fake website? IMMEDIATELY phone your bank on 159, or credit card provider using the number on the back of your card, or via online banking apps.

Please do share this important warning with friends and family and encourage them to sign up for their own Hampshire Alert: https://www.hampshirealert.co.uk/ 

Hampshire Alerts is not a crime reporting portal – please do not report crime here.

If you realise you’ve been scammed and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Report Fraud either by phone 0300 123 2040 or online at:  https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

However, if a fraud or other crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report non-fraud crime online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or phone 0800 555 111

If you've been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential, support:  https://www.hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk/  or phone 0808 178 1641

If you’ve received a phishing email please report it to your email provider and/or forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk 

If you’ve received unwanted phone calls or texts from people you think are trying to scam you, but you haven’t engaged with them, please forward the text/phone number to 7726 or to your phone provider.

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team