The UK areas most at risk of online shopping scams
E-commerce experts at CartridgeSave.co.uk analysed the latest data available from the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre to see which UK Police Forces reported the highest levels of online shopping scams as a percentage of all cybercrime and fraud reportings in the past 13 months.
It found that the Devon & Cornwall area is most at risk of online shopping scams. 2,126, or 26.49% of the total cyber crimes reported by Devon and Cornwall Police were in online shopping.
Coming in second place is the northeast England area of Durham. Durham Police data shows that of the 2,716 total fraud and cyber crimes reported in the past 13 months, 714, or 26.29%, were from online shopping.
South Wales takes third place on the list, with South Wales Police reporting 8,027 fraud and cyber crimes in the past 13 months, with 1,609, or 25.2%, being from online shopping.
Taking fourth place in the top ten is the East Midlands area of Derbyshire. The study found that 1,296, or 25%, of the 5,185 total cyber crimes reported by Derbyshire Police in the past 13 months were from online shopping scams.
Rounding out the top five is another East Midlands area in Leicestershire. Leicestershire Police reported 5,770 fraud and cyber crimes in the past 13 months, and of this total, 1,432, or 24.82%, were from online shopping scams.
| Rank | Area | Total fraud and cyber crimes reported (past 13 months) | Online shopping scams reported (past 13 months) | Percentage of total that is online shopping scams |
| 1 | Devon and Cornwall | 8,027 | 2,126 | 26.49% |
| 2 | Durham | 2,716 | 714 | 26.29% |
| 3 | South Wales | 6,385 | 1,609 | 25.20% |
| 4 | Derbyshire | 5,185 | 1,296 | 25.00% |
| 5 | Leicestershire | 5,770 | 1,432 | 24.82% |
| 6 | North Wales | 3,502 | 867 | 24.76% |
| 7 | Gloucestershire | 3,362 | 824 | 24.51% |
| 8 | Gwent | 2,850 | 695 | 24.39% |
| 9 | Suffolk | 3,926 | 941 | 23.97% |
| 10 | Avon and Somerset | 8,853 | 2,077 | 23.46% |
Commenting on the findings, Ian Cowley, managing director of CartridgeSave.co.uk, said: “It’s important to be extra vigilant while online shopping nowadays, with scammers methods getting more and more complicated and believable. Several years ago, what may have been easily detectable has turned into scammers using methods like spoofing entire websites and posing as other people. Make sure you know where you’re purchasing from online, and be extra careful around websites you are not familiar with.”