Bank of Ireland has reported a significant 32% increase in online shopping fraud over the past year. According to Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at the bank, most scams occur through advertisements on social media offering goods at low prices. Once payment is made, typically via direct bank transfers, the fraudulent sellers disappear without delivering the promised products.
Sadlier highlights that these scams often involve poorly written ads with bad spelling and grammar, incorrect product descriptions, and dubious reviews. He urges consumers to avoid clicking on such ads. Instead, they should visit the official website directly by typing its name into their browser.
The bank also criticizes search engines and social media platforms for not doing enough to prevent fraudulent ads, as they benefit from advertising revenue. Sadlier advises using secure payment methods like credit or debit cards and reporting any scams to the Garda or the bank, even if embarrassed.
By staying vigilant and recognizing too-good-to-be-true offers, consumers can protect themselves from online shopping fraud.