1. Be wary of suspicious links
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Avoid clicking links in emails that are from unfamiliar senders or links that don't make it clear where they will lead you to.
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Research retailers you are not familiar with and look for reviews about the company from reliable sources.
- Look out for fraudulent emails. Check email addresses against others you have received in the past.
2. Don't rush, don't be pressured
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Use known reputable websites, especially for sales events.
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Don't rush to buy a product, even if it is from a legitimate company - you could regret it and then struggle to cancel or get a refund it.
- Keep in mind, products marked 'limited stock' or 'last few remaining' are sometimes a lure to make you rush into a purchase and could potentially be a scam

3. Use strong passwords
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The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends using three memorable but random words to create your passwords.
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Use at least 12 characters and add numbers, and special characters at the start middle or end to increase its strength.
- Use unique passwords for each of your important accounts such as social media, email, banking and websites storing banking details.
4. Make sure websites are secure
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Check for "https://" in web addresses or a locked padlock symbol in your browser.
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"https://" doesn't necessarily mean the website is legitimate but it does mean the connection between you and the website is encrypted.
- "https://" doesn't guarantee that your information can't be intercepted but it is definitely better to have it than not.

5. Use a guest account on websites
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Try to reduce the amount of online accounts you hold, particularly ones containing personal and financial information.
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If you don't use a website frequently, consider checking out as a guest rather than making an account.
- Keep your personal information to a minimum to reduce the amount of information available to criminals if the website is hacked or suffers from a data breach.
6. Check your bank statement regularly
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Check your bank statements for payments made that you don't recognise.
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If you find any transactions that you were not aware of, contact your bank immediately.

7. Complete transactions through official websites
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Be wary of a seller asking you to pay by bank transfer or outside of a website.
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Payment services like PayPal or using credit cards offer additional protection.
8. Be careful with adverts on social media
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Avoid clicking links on advertisements. Check reputable websites for reviews to check for the legitimacy of products and services.
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If in doubt about the authenticity of a website, don't give any personal or financial information.
- Schedule and run anti-virus scans regularly. If you think you may have visited a suspicious website, run a scan.

9. Keep your documentation
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Legitimate companies will usually send you an order confirmation after making a purchase.
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Keep your documents safe until you are happy with your purchase.
- If the product you have ordered comes with a guarantee, keep the receipt, and submit any forms offering guarantees or free servicing.
10. Research products and businesses before you buy
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There are plenty of reputable review websites online, and some merchants have their own feedback facility.
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Keep an eye out for similar looking language used in multiple reviews for the same business or product as this can be an indicator of a scam.

11. Secure your devices and apps
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Make sure your devices have up-to-date anti-virus software installed and turned on. Both Apple and the latest Microsoft computers come with anti-virus pre-installed.
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Your computers, devices and software will often notify you of updates. Don't ignore them, install them at the earliest opportunity.
12. Secure your smart devices
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Change default settings on your smart devices. Usernames and passwords should be changed if possible.
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Keep an eye on available updates and security fixes from the manufacturer. Some devices won't automatically update.
- If you decide to get rid of/sell your device, remember to perform a factory reset to return it to original settings and remove your data.
