SHOPPERS in Cumbria are being urged to watch out for fake and counterfeit items ahead of Christmas. 

With internet sales set to peak today on what has been called Cyber Monday, Cumbria County Council Trading Standards are warning festive consumers of the dangers of buying counterfeit Christmas presents.

Trading Standards are advising shoppers to follow these simple tips to keep fraudsters at bay this Christmas:

· Only deal with reputable online retailers you know and trust. 

· If the goods cost over £100 consider using a credit card as this will give you additional consumer protection if things go wrong. But only use a credit card if you can afford the repayments. 

· Trust your instincts – if an offer looks too good to believe then there is usually a catch. 

· Ensure the payment system is secure – there should be a padlock symbol on the bottom right of the page and the website address should begin with “https”. 

· Check the URL in the web browser. Don’t be fooled by spoof websites where the fraudsters slightly change the address. 

· Conduct a “who is” search online which will tell you where a website is registered. If the website is registered abroad it may be difficult or impossible to claim compensation from the seller.

Trading Standards have teamed up with brand holders to provide self-help advice for consumers who are considering buying online using the ‘Brand-I’ website which allows consumers to search for stockists of legitimate branded goods. If a website advertising the relevant goods is not listed with Brand-i, then the advice is not to buy as products will not be genuine. Consumers can also use the site to report suspicious websites that they encounter.

Visit Brand-i website