Warning of increase in online shopping scams around Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Internet security experts are warning that as online Christmas shopping on 'Cyber Monday' is set to reach an all-time high, too many people are at risk from online scams and fraudsters, particularly as more and more online shopping takes place on mobile devices.

Following today's 'Black Friday' sales, Monday 2nd December has in recent years become known as 'Cyber Monday' as the day of the year that sees record levels of online shopping. Last year, sales across Europe totalled £470m, a figure that retail experts predict will rise by 13.1% to £532m this year.

[Black Friday Stampede at UK Shopping Centre]

Similarly, the amount of shopping done over phones or tablets is set to increase hugely on last year - according to figures from market researchers at eMarketer, we will be spending 68% more through our mobiles than last year.

Despite the increased popularity of mobile spending, our attention to mobile security is lagging behind. According to figures from internet security experts Symantec, 63% of mobile device owners have been affected by cybercrime at some point, and 67% have no mobile security installed on their device.

A Symantec spokesperson said: “Christmas is a high pressure and expensive time of year. When shopping online, it’s all about maintaining perspective and remembering that when a deal seems too good to be true it usually is. Some shoppers can get carried away and let their festive enthusiasm get the better of them, lower their usual defences and become more vulnerable to opportunistic cybercrimals.”

Security researchers have already spotted spam emails looking to take advantage of our eagerness to buy, claiming to offer incredible discounts.

We've put together some easy tips to make sure you don't fall foul of cyber scammers this holiday season.

Look before you click.
Don't click on unsolicited links in emails that claim to offer out-of-this world deals. Check the offer out elsewhere to make sure it's real - but better yet, ignore it. Similarly, don't click on pop-up ads.

Check the website's address
All genuine and reputable vendors online must use SSL security. To check this, look to see if the website address begins with 'https' rather than just 'http'. Your browser may also display a padlock or similar symbol to indicate a secure connection.

Keep your browser and anti-virus up-to-date
Regularly updating your browser will ensure that it patches known holes in its security, while up-to-date antivirus programs are essential to keep out the latest generation of malware.

Password your phone or tablet
27% of adults have had their phone lost or stolen and almost half of people don't use a password to protect their phones, according to Symantec. If you're logged in to shopping websites or apps, a thief will immediately have access to your account if you don't lock your phone. Use a password and download apps that let you remotely track and lock your phone if stolen or lost.

[Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping deals]

Beware unknown apps
Think twice before downloading third-party apps (from outside the App story or Google Play market). They may contain malware and it can be hard to verify their authenticity.

Check your balance
Thieves may not immediately empty your account if they gain access to it, preferring to remain undetected until they strike at a later date. Keep an eye out for any suspicious transactions, no matter how small, and check your account regularly.

Use credit not debit
Credit cards offer more protection in the event of fraud than debit cards, meaning that even if you do come a cropper, you're more likely to get your money back.