Martin Lewis

Money on my mind... the Martin Lewis column

He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers. In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at keeping our money safe online. Staying one step ahead of the fraudsters isn’t a battle just reserved for those who patrol the internet. The unregulated nature of the world’s biggest information source means we need to take control of our own vigilance. The good news is that by following a few easy steps, you can protect yourself from the dark forces at work across the web.

Firstly, when visiting a site, in the web address at the top, look for an ‘s’ after ‘http’ at the beginning of the line. The lack of an ‘s’ doesn’t directly imply you are on a scam website, but it is telling you that the security certifi cate is inadequate, and you should refrain from entering personal information.

Some browsers – Google Chrome being one – add a padlock icon denoting any website that is fully secure, or the web address could be shown in green. The highest form of encryption for any site will show the website name before the address, also.

Mostly, ask yourself if what’s being offered is realistic. On the internet, just as in real life, if something you see online appears too good to be true – particularly if you’ve clicked on an advert or had a popup appear on your screen – it probably is.

Also have a look for how well written and presented the site is. There is a very real correlation between the trustworthiness of a site and the attention paid to spelling, punctuation and grammar. It may not surprise you to hear that few scammers are fully adept in the fi ner workings of the English language, particularly if that site is being run many thousands of miles from the UK, and authentic marketing will almost always look professional in style and content.

Furthermore, as much as Google may at times frustrate us by offering a multitude of options that are almost bewildering in number, it remains a great source for checking what we know. So if a site looks suspicious put its name into Google. If it’s a known rogue business then there’s a good chance it’s being discussed across the web.

Finally, if you are purchasing online, use a credit card or trackback fi nancial tool, such as PayPal. That way if something does go awry, you have the security of reclaiming your money.

appears too good to be true – particularly if you’ve clicked on an advert or had a popup appear on your screen – it probably is. Also have a look for how well written and presented the site is. There is a very real correlation between the

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