WEb chat opportunity for people who fear Internet shopping
Friday, 17th September 2010.
Three quarters of people feel unsafe when shopping online, according to a new survey into e-commerce conducted by the Trading Standards Institute.
More than half (63 per cent) fear their card or bank details will get stolen, a tenth worry their item won’t arrive and six per cent are concerned the item will turn out to be a fake.
As National e-Consumer Week gets underway from September 20 to 24, the public are being warned to be more vigilant than ever about websites selling counterfeit goods, or sites which turn out to be fake and disappear with people’s hard-earned cash.
To coincide with this week of action Suffolk Trading Standards will be running a web chat which will offer consumers the chance to ask a trading standards officer a question or raise a concern about on-line shopping.
The web chat will take place between 12noon and 2pm on Wednesday, September 22, via the Suffolk Trading Standards page found at www.facebook.com/SuffolkTradingStandards Those interested in taking part will need to register as a Facebook user.
For those unable to access the Internet at home, Suffolk’s libraries will be open for users to log on and staff will be able to assist.
Teenage entrepreneur Arjun Rajyagor, the winner of BBC TV’s Junior Apprentice show, is backing National e-Consumer Week’s Stay Safe Online campaign and has joined the calls urging people to shop safely, particularly those in his age group who are at serious risk from online scammers. To see his message, visit www.youtube.com/1TradingStandards.
Fakes which shoppers are particularly warned about include mobile phones, GHD hair straighteners, Nintendo DS Lite consoles, video games, clothing, toys, perfumes and cosmetics, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. Many of the counterfeit versions contain dangerous components or may be harmful.
Andy Foster, operations director for the Trading Standards Institute, said the results of their survey of almost 800 people visiting their website (www.tsi.org.uk) during a four-week period showed that more than a quarter (28 per cent) said they had problems shopping online with 48 per cent saying the item never arrived, 19 per cent said it was a fake and seven per cent were overcharged.
He said: “Our survey gives a snapshot of some of the problems that people are facing. However, we want to encourage people to carry on shopping online but make sure they follow our CHECK list first.”
C. Choose your shopping sites carefully;
H. Help yourself by thinking about the price, the place you are buying from and packaging;
E. Ensure the site is secure (look for https and the padlock);
C. Contact law enforcement if you spot something suspicious;
K. Keep a copy of your order, details of the website and acknowledgements.
Also ensure the website has a postal address for the trader and use a credit card for payments over £100, but never send your card or pin details via email.
Further advice is also available from the Trading Standards Institute (www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/ncw), Electrical Safety Council (www.escsafeshoppersguide.org.uk) and UK European Consumer Centre (www.ukecc.net).
More than half (63 per cent) fear their card or bank details will get stolen, a tenth worry their item won’t arrive and six per cent are concerned the item will turn out to be a fake.
As National e-Consumer Week gets underway from September 20 to 24, the public are being warned to be more vigilant than ever about websites selling counterfeit goods, or sites which turn out to be fake and disappear with people’s hard-earned cash.
To coincide with this week of action Suffolk Trading Standards will be running a web chat which will offer consumers the chance to ask a trading standards officer a question or raise a concern about on-line shopping.
The web chat will take place between 12noon and 2pm on Wednesday, September 22, via the Suffolk Trading Standards page found at www.facebook.com/SuffolkTradingStandards Those interested in taking part will need to register as a Facebook user.
For those unable to access the Internet at home, Suffolk’s libraries will be open for users to log on and staff will be able to assist.
Teenage entrepreneur Arjun Rajyagor, the winner of BBC TV’s Junior Apprentice show, is backing National e-Consumer Week’s Stay Safe Online campaign and has joined the calls urging people to shop safely, particularly those in his age group who are at serious risk from online scammers. To see his message, visit www.youtube.com/1TradingStandards.
Fakes which shoppers are particularly warned about include mobile phones, GHD hair straighteners, Nintendo DS Lite consoles, video games, clothing, toys, perfumes and cosmetics, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. Many of the counterfeit versions contain dangerous components or may be harmful.
Andy Foster, operations director for the Trading Standards Institute, said the results of their survey of almost 800 people visiting their website (www.tsi.org.uk) during a four-week period showed that more than a quarter (28 per cent) said they had problems shopping online with 48 per cent saying the item never arrived, 19 per cent said it was a fake and seven per cent were overcharged.
He said: “Our survey gives a snapshot of some of the problems that people are facing. However, we want to encourage people to carry on shopping online but make sure they follow our CHECK list first.”
C. Choose your shopping sites carefully;
H. Help yourself by thinking about the price, the place you are buying from and packaging;
E. Ensure the site is secure (look for https and the padlock);
C. Contact law enforcement if you spot something suspicious;
K. Keep a copy of your order, details of the website and acknowledgements.
Also ensure the website has a postal address for the trader and use a credit card for payments over £100, but never send your card or pin details via email.
Further advice is also available from the Trading Standards Institute (www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/ncw), Electrical Safety Council (www.escsafeshoppersguide.org.uk) and UK European Consumer Centre (www.ukecc.net).
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