The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that shoppers lost over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024. Each victim lost an average of £695. A total of £10.6 million was lost the previous year.
The Black Friday season can be a good time to find bargains for businesses as well as individual shoppers. However, it’s evident that online criminals are doing their best to take advantage of the increased shopping activity.
It’s important then that you and your business exercise vigilance during this time. NCSC advise that criminals will often create false urgency by using limited-time offers or promoting items that seem scarce or not widely available.
Anyone involved in purchasing should be made aware that if they see or hear anything that doesn’t seem quite right, they should immediately:
- Break the contact and don’t click on any links.
- Research the company or seller by looking at reviews on trusted review sites.
Another important step that the NCSC recommends taking is to enable two-step verification on any online accounts you have. You should also make sure that all online accounts are protected with a memorable but secure password.
By taking these essential measures you will help protect yourself and your business from fraud while you track down any bargains!
To review the report and guidance in full, see: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/black-friday-warning-figures-reveal-rising-losses-scams
The latest annual report from the Charter Stakeholder Group remains highly critical of HMRC's service performance, with scores either stagnant or deteriorating across most standards. Alongside poor scores for responsiveness and ease of use, the report highlights overwhelmingly negative feedback on Making Tax Digital (MTD).
Andy Burnham’s first days as Prime Minister have been marked by a flurry of announcements designed to show that his government intends to move quickly. Presenting himself as a leader focused on easing pressure on households and rebuilding trust in politics, Burnham has begun reshaping government while signalling the priorities that will define his administration.