Consumer Forum

The Met police have been busy. It has just emerged their ‘Police e-Crime Unit’ has identified and shut down more than a thousand scam websites – offering everything from designer goods to jewellery and electronic items – and sending thousands of poor unsuspecting customers counterfeit goods…..or nothing at all, leaving them empty handed and out of pocket. While many of these websites were run by criminal gangs out of the Far East, all had .co.uk domain names. The leading detective on the case – one Detective Superintendent Charlie McMurdie – told Sky News: “The risk begins when your desire to purchase blinds your judgment or leads you to illegal websites. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Of course that’s not always the case Charlie….just log on to Chemistdirect.co.uk and you’ll find savings of up to 90%. Ask our 300,000 customers and you’ll find there is no scam there!

But whilst there is no doubt the revolution in online retailing has been a huge benefit to the British public, these fake websites are an unpleasant side effect and their growth marks a worrying development. What is all the more troubling is their apparent sophistication. They appear to be genuine and when people find out they have been scammed it is too late for most – they have given over their details and they run the risk of the criminals stealing their identity, credit card and banking details for misuse elsewhere. This is particularly striking at this time of the year, when people are looking for the best bargains to buy their loved ones.

So should genuine internet retailers be worried the public is being put off going online to shop? Not overly…the majority of internet shoppers are savvy and most will only use a retailer they have seen recommended in shopping pages or on television.

However, what can customers who don’t trust a website actually do? The best advice before you make any purchase from a website you are not totally convinced of, is to log on to Consumer Direct, a government funded advice service for everyone to use (www.consumerdirect.co.uk)  which also lists bogus websites.

News like this also makes organisations like the Consumer Forum all the more worthwhile…..a perfect illustration of how the internet can be used to help champion consumers.

Have a very Happy Christmas and safe online shopping!

 

Mitesh Soma, Founder, Chemist Direct.

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