1. Make sure you don’t feel rushed. Scammers often create a sense of urgency by claiming it’s a limited offer or price which encourages you to act without taking as much time to consider the purchase.

2. Know who you are buying from – if buying from a company you have not used before, check reviews and previous customers’ feedback. If in doubt, don’t buy.

3. Be wary of suspicious web links. These may direct you to fake (but realistic-looking) websites. It is better to type in the website address yourself.

4. Don’t share any one-time codes that you’re sent when shopping online. These codes are used to confirm that you’re the one making the purchase, so don’t share them with anyone.

5. Avoid paying anyone you don’t know by bank transfer. Paying by credit card for single items costing £100 and over gives you legal protection if the goods do not arrive, are faulty, or do not match the description. Paying by credit or debit card for orders costing less than £100 also gives you protection using your card provider’s voluntary ‘Chargeback’ scheme.

If you’re worried that something you’ve seen online might be a scam, you can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer line by calling 0808 223 1133 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer for more information.