Official warning
Criminals are taking over shopping accounts
Report Fraud has warned about a rise in criminals using stolen passwords to order expensive goods.
How it works
A password exposed in an earlier data breach is tried on a shopping account. If it was reused, the criminal can enter the account, place an order and collect it.
A message might say
“You receive an order or collection message for something you did not buy, or notice unfamiliar activity in a retailer account.”
Warning signs
- ●An order, collection notice or password reset you did not request
- ●A saved address, phone number or payment method has changed
- ●The same password was used on more than one account
What to do
- 1Open the retailer's app or type its address yourself
- 2Change the password anywhere it was reused and switch on two-step verification
- 3Contact your bank immediately if an unfamiliar payment appears
Source: Report Fraud. Ward has rewritten the warning in plain language.