Devon police are warning shoppers to beware of the "12 Online Frauds of Christmas".
As the festive shopping bonanza gets under way Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a campaign to protect people from falling victim to cyber-fraudsters.
Last Christmas Devon and Cornwall people gave more than just their heart as they shopped online.
The force said they fell victim to online fraudsters, losing out on more than a quarter of a million pounds worth of gifts – £325.055. Over a four month period 443 reported incidents were made to police in the region.
Working in partnership with the City of London Police, the national policing lead for fraud, the force has released a simple list of "do's and don'ts" of online shopping.
So far in 2014, 74 percent of all adults nationwide have bought goods or services online, and this December around 50 percent of UK citizens are expected to use the internet to buy more than half of their Christmas presents.
While the vast majority of these purchase occur without a hitch tens of thousands still get left feeling less than jolly thanks to heartless criminals who specialise in tricking internet users with the promise of great online deals and big cash savings.
Over the next twelve days police will be flagging up the various threats and risks, starting on Black Friday, November 28 when a vast amount of gifts are bought online and continuing on to Cyber Monday, December 1, when the first of many Christmas e-cards are sent – along with malware and viruses.
Devon and Cornwall Police, working with 37 other police forces and a range of public and private sector organisations will continue the daily warnings, flagging up festive frauds, as identified by the City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).
The fraud warnings will include action fraud, holiday fraud, loan scams, ticketing fraud, charity fraud, mobile malware apps,
dodgy money transfers, social media scams, romance scams and mobile payment fraud.
Det Chief Insp Stuart Cavin from Devon and Cornwall's Serious Organised Crime Unit said: "We were really keen to be a part of this national campaign which is essentially about ensuring that we are safe online.
"This time of year sees an increase in shopping and general online activity and we want to take this opportunity to shine a light on the potential risks from both fraudulent activity and the wider use of the internet for further criminality.
"The 12 online frauds of Christmas campaign highlight those key areas of crime which affect many people within our communities and the key to reducing this harm is to prevent this now and in the future.
"In addition the campaign raises awareness of what we, as individuals, can do in terms of ensuring our computer systems are sufficiently capable of offering online protection."
For more internet safety advice visit www.getsafeonline.org and www.cyberstreetwise.com.
Victims of cyber-fraud should report it to www.actionfraud.police.uk or call the national helpline on 0300 1232040.
