Visa urges caution as last-minute holiday purchases surge online

Staying safe online

Visa recommends following these top tips for safe online holiday shopping:

• Always start by researching the business before buying from them. From consulting consumer resources to seeking out their company information, such as formal contact and business registration details. Do not ever feel pressured into making a holiday purchase or booking – it should wait until you have done your research and are confident that you’re in safe hands.

• Always check the URL. At a quick glance, it might appear you’re on a trusted site, but fraudsters strike by creating duplicates of well-known websites. Victims then presume they are on the official website and hand over funds for a fake item. Fraudulent sites may also try to take you to another unknown site to provide payment.

• Always pay by card. When paying with a Visa debit or credit card, you can feel confident you are paying safely and securely, as Visa’s Zero Liability Policy means you won’t be held responsible for unauthorised or fraudulent charges made with your account.

• Resist responding to unsolicited calls, texts or emails offering last minute offers at low prices. If a deal seems too good to be true, it’s often because it is.
  
• The same goes for holiday-related deals presented to you on social media – be careful. Links and attachments promising offers may lead to malicious websites or viruses that are then downloaded to your device, stealing bank account details or personal information.
  

Natalie Kelly, Head of Risk at Visa Europe, comments: “By keeping these guidelines in mind, we hope holidaymakers can enjoy holiday preparation without the burden of scams clouding their mind. We understand the excitement and urgency that come with last-minute holiday shopping, be it booking a holiday deal or buying items for your trip. However, it's vital for consumers to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to protect themselves from fraud.”

Visa's commitment to fraud protection

Visa is committed to preventing fraud and works tirelessly to ensure secure transactions. With multiple layers of safety nets in place, Visa has successfully processed over 99.999% of transactions received in the last five years.

Visa continues to play a leading role in combatting fraud, preventing an estimated $27 billion (£19 billion) in global fraud each year. Incidents of fraud occur in less than 0.1% of transactions of Visa’s network, among the lowest of all payment forms.

About the research

Research commissioned by Visa and conducted by Censuswide with 2,000 UK adults between 26th June and 30th June 2023. The data was collected using an online survey in the UK.