How to protect yourself from online scams

As we increasingly turn to online shopping to decorate and furnish our homes, you may find yourself drawn to sites such as online marketplaces like Facebook.  Unfortunately, as consumer habits change and evolve, so do scams.

These online marketplaces are a popular platform for people to buy and sell goods, furniture and other homewares directly with each other. But as with anything scammers will also be drawn towards places they see an opportunity to take advantage of. 

Knowing the signs of a scam is crucial to avoid being a victim. For instance, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Always take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from online scams. Doing so allows you to enjoy the platform and its many benefits safely.

How to spot an online scam

As with any phishing or scamming attempt, spotting something designed to trick you can be a challenge. If you are every concerned or worried a communication to you is not form AnyVan, here are some easy ways to help spot if it’s from us:

• How have you been contacted? At AnyVan, we never reach out to try and make sales on social media - especially via private messages. So if you've received a Direct Message (DM) or message claiming it's from us regarding your payment, even if it looks like it's us - it isn't. We will only ever reply to messages we receive on our official pages if you contact us first.
• If you have reached out to us but have a suspicious message - think before you do anything: Do the details all sound real? Do you have a booking reference number? Reach out to our customer service team on 020 3872 3050 and verify it before paying anything. We're here every day to help you.
• Suspicious emails or links? We would never send you a link to anywhere other than the AnyVan site and all emails from us will end in "@anyvan.com" or "@anyvan.ie". Never "@gmail.com". If you do receive a suspicious email, don’t click on any links within it, don’t open any attachments and don’t reply.
• Sharing your details - Never share your own card/bank details over the phone if you're unsure who you're talking to; we will contact you in regards to your booking and payment but if you're ever concerned about the number you're being called from, always feel free to stop the call and call us back directly on 020 3872 3050 to confirm. Also, verify you're on our site by looking for the SSL certificate, which ensures that the site is secure and that the information entered is encrypted. We will never ask you to pay on any other website than AnyVan.com
• If you are not sure, ask us  - If the message or call you have received looks or sounds suspicious, or you are not sure of any of the above, always feel free to hang up and call us back directly on 020 3872 3050 to confirm.

By being vigilant and cautious, you can rest assured that your AnyVan booking will be a safe and hassle-free experience. Always verify the request's source, and be wary of anything that seems too good to be true. 

Taking these simple steps can go a long way in safeguarding yourself from fraudulent transactions.

If you've received a suspicious social media message or email, contact us on 020 3872 3050.