Christmas shopping
This is a safe way to shop for gifts
If you take the right precautions, you can shop more relaxed in the run-up to Christmas – online and offline.
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Fake shops on the internet, pickpockets in real life: This is how consumers protect themselves from criminal desires in the run-up to Christmas.
In the run-up to Christmas, many people look for gifts at Christmas markets in their region and on the Internet. However, caution is important both in the real world and online markets, as the businesses also attract desire from criminals. How to introduce yourself Be careful of fake shops, pickpockets and other scams.
Numerous fake shops appear on the Internet, especially from Black Friday and Cyber Monday until shortly before Christmas, offering seemingly unbeatable prices. So many criminals are now trying this method that the consumer advice center has its own Fake shop finder brought into being.
Many Germans are already foregoing alleged bargains
In fact, many Germans are aware of this danger, as a current survey by the Finnish cybersecurity company F-Secure shows: According to this, more than one in five Germans (21 percent) will have fallen victim to online fraud in 2022 – which is why 70 percent of those surveyed are on supposed bargains online because they don’t trust the dealer. F-Secure also offers this a service that can be used to find out the legitimacy of shops.
You should also be careful with loans, instant financing and installment payments, which are offered by dealers but are always linked to a contract with a credit institution. Before you accept such an offer, you should definitely read the small print so as not to end up in an unintentional cost trap. The consumer advice center advises: “The installment payment offered should therefore only be used if your own budget has been checked beforehand for the additional burden – and if necessary, the loan can also be repaid using reserves.”
On guard against criminals, even at the mulled wine stand
Meanwhile, there is also increased risk at Christmas markets in real life, such as the Hesse police these days warns. Among other things, she recommends not carrying too much money with you, storing it safely on your person and being particularly careful about bumping into people and talking to strangers. It goes without saying that you should also keep your smartphone and other valuables out of the reach of thieves in the crowds in front of the sales and mulled wine stands.