We look for familiar names when shopping online. Unfortunately, fraudsters know this. Hundreds of pop fans have discovered they don't have tickets for summer festivals and concerts by George Michael and Madonna, despite handing over hundreds of pounds.
When they booked, they were probably reassured by the name of the ticket agency. SOS Ticket Master sounds quite similar to Ticket Master, the big ticket agency. But the companies are not related and SOS Ticket Master has disappeared, leaving people less trusting of online retailing.
A few months ago con artists set up a website that used the name of a respectable electrical retailer. The website used the retailer's well-known livery and colour scheme. Not surprisingly people thought it was the retailer's online store. It wasn't. And shoppers who handed over their credit card details never saw their money again, or their goods.
Useful advice on how to avoid web swindlers is given by this Government website. One tip here, though: if you think you're using a well-known retailer online, ask yourself whether it really is the right site. Does Google list any more plausible sites? If in doubt, phone the (physical) high street shop and ask for its web address. On the internet, as on the high street, not everything is as it seems.
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