Fraud Protection

Purchase scams - too good to be true? It probably is.

Scammers trick businesses into buying products that don’t exist, such as vehicles, machinery, office supplies, or even contracts to supply services to an established and reputable business.

The product or service may be advertised online, or you may be approached directly by a seemingly legitimate company with an offer. After making a payment or payments for the goods, services or a registration fee, the product or contract is never received, and in many cases contact from the individual or company will cease, leaving you out of pocket with no chance of a refund.

Avoid falling victim to purchase scams:

• Do your research. If you’re planning to buy something online or make a deal with a new business make sure you research the company and check reviews. Don’t solely rely on reviews on the company’s own website. Look for alternative online reviews on the company that may highlight risks.
• Search for the company’s details via the GOV.UK website to check if the company is registered.
• Check that the website is secure (i.e. begins with ‘https://’) and professional. Look out for any spelling or grammar mistakes.
• Use https://www.whois.com/whois/^ to check the domain details, such as the owner and the age of the website.
• Avoid making a big first-time order – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
• Check any documentation and serial numbers carefully to ensure what you’re buying is genuine and if there’s a good reason why the cost may be lower.