As Ulster Bank releases the findings of its Annual Fraud Survey, the Bank is urging online shoppers to be on the lookout for more than just bargains this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with criminals increasingly targeting unsuspecting shoppers on one of the busiest e-commerce days of the year.

The survey of 927 online shoppers by Ulster Bank has shown an increased awareness when it comes to safely buying goods online. Three-quarters (75%) of those surveyed said that they felt that they had taken all the necessary precautions to shop safely online. A fifth (19%) said that they would click on a link if it promised them a great deal, down from 23% last year. Similarly, around two-thirds (64%) of respondents said they would often or occasionally click through to a webpage without really thinking about if they are secure (down from 82% in 2019).

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 sales moving mostly online due to the Level 5 restrictions, a fifth (20%) of respondents who shop online say that they will spend more online this Black Friday than they did last year while another quarter (26%) believe that they will spend less online this year. Half of respondents (50%) who shop online say that they will do more Christmas shopping online than in store this year.

Ulster Bank has a wide range of anti-fraud and scams supports and services for consumers to better protect themselves. The bank analyses payments for irregularities while communications from a customer’s computer or mobile app when using online or mobile banking are encrypted. In addition, regular tests are undertaken by independent industry experts to ensure that the services meet the highest standards of security, while all of Ulster Bank’s websites are monitored and protected from sophisticated attacks.

You can find out more information by visiting https://digital.ulsterbank.ie/personal/security-centre.html