Online shoppers are less likely to fall foul of online fraudsters this Christmas, according to the Metropolitan Police, after more than 2,000 fraudulent websites were suspended following action by the Met’s Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU).
Working closely with domain name registries and registrars, detectives from the unit have identified and instigated action against counterfeit and fraudulent sites which affect thousands of unassuming consumers and generate millions of pounds for the criminals behind them.
The sites in question generally purport to sell a raft of designer goods, including brands such as Nike, GHD, Tiffany and Ugg.
Innocent online shoppers are duped into handing over their money in exchange for what appear to be ‘bargain’ purchases. Those items then either never materialise or are revealed to be counterfeit goods.
Victims of the sites also run the risk that the criminals behind them could potentially steal their identity, credit card and banking details for criminal activity elsewhere.
DI Paul Hoare of the PCeU said: “The sites suspended are registered in bulk by crime groups with the sole intention of duping consumers into parting with their money for, at best, poor quality counterfeit goods, at worst, nothing at all. In the run up to Christmas the PCeU will continue to work with Nominet and other registries to disable as many such sites as possible but I would urge customers to take all precautions to ensure they buy from legitimate sites only.”
