Don’t be taken for a mug!
With days to go until the coronation of King Charles III, Croydon Trading Standards are warning consumers to be wary of those who are looking to capitalise on the event.
Scammers and fraudsters are very adept at adapting their techniques to particular events and the Coronation is proving to be no different. Websites selling commemorative items such as mugs, plates and coins other coronation memorabilia, will often deliver sub-standard items or nothing at all.
Many of these websites are also insecure, meaning any data entered into them – such as credit or debit card information, addresses and usernames – can be easily harvested and sold onto third parties who will target individuals in the future.
Consumers are advised to stick to official merchandise sites, but even those can be impersonated by fraudsters, so check things such as fonts, grammar and spelling. Basic mistakes will often be a clear sign of a scam. Look also for a padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar – if one is not present, that clearly suggests issues with the website.
It is also important to be aware of phishing emails; if sent an email with a link to a shop, a simple way to avoid getting caught out is to copy and paste it into a web browser to help you identify if it is fake.
If in any doubt about the legitimacy of an email, contact the alleged sender directly but do not use any numbers or addresses in the email – search for the organisation online and contact it directly using the details on its website.
Further advice can be obtained by emailing
trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk
To report a suspected crime, or if you have fallen victim to fraud or cyber-crime, contact Action Fraud via its website or by calling 0300 123 2040
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) operates a phishing email reporting service, which can be reached by forwarding any suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk