With the busiest shopping season of the year approaching, Bank of Ireland is working to protect customers from all types of fraud online.

To mark International Fraud Awareness Week, Newstalk and Bank of Ireland have teamed up to offer you the chance to win an iPad Air worth €1,000.

All you have to do to enter is fill out the form below:

Bank of Ireland research shows that nearly half the Irish population now shops online throughout the year, and although interest in Black Friday and Cyber Monday is not what it once was, just over one-third of people plan to spend online in the run-up to Christmas.

The bank’s fraud prevention campaign is built around three simple steps – Stop, Think, Check.

Before you buy online, Bank of Ireland is reminding consumers to:

• Stop: Shop only with reputable retailers.
• Think: Never be rushed into buying, even if it looks like a bargain – remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Check: Research unfamiliar websites and read trusted independent reviews.

When buying online, always try to use a debit or credit card for added protection, such as chargeback claims.

The bank is encouraging everyone to switch on enhanced card security features like Spend Alerts that ensure you get notifications for every payment on your card(s).

Meanwhile, with three-in-four people who use social media saying they are wary of the risk of fraud when shopping online, you can always freeze your card instantly in the Bank of Ireland app if you think it has been compromised – giving you the time you need to call the Bank of Ireland 24/7 Fraud Team on 1800 946 764.

Pictured at the launch of the public awareness campaign are Baz Ashmawy, Bank of Ireland’s Financial Wellbeing Ambassador and Prof. Mary Aiken, International Cyberpsychologist.  Image: Bank of Ireland.

Bank of Ireland’s research shows that Irish people believe social media fraud is now at epidemic levels, and is now the largest single channel for fraud scams in the country.

Nearly 80% of people use social media every day, with the average person spending between one and two hours on social platforms daily.

With so much interaction online, consumers are inevitably more exposed to scams.

Some 15% of people say they have fallen for a social media scam, but the majority of people say they were able to detect that it was fraudulent through a combination of instinct and research.

Some of the reasons people said they were able to detect it as a scam included:

• Something about the ad didn't look quite right 62%
• The offer was too good to be true 47%
• I researched the profile to see if it was real 44%
• I'd already heard about these fakes in the news / from family / friends 35%
• I investigated it on independent reviews 25%
• I fell for the scam and lost my money 8%
• I fell for the scam, but didn't lose any money 7%

Nine in ten people believe social media companies should not be able to profit from fraudsters placing ads on their platforms, and the same proportion believe companies that advertise financial services on social media platforms should have to prove that the ads are genuine and the company is registered with the Central Bank of Ireland.

All of this underlines why Bank of Ireland is urging everyone to Stop, Think, Check before they act online.

By taking a few simple precautions, shoppers can stay one step ahead and ensure we don’t let the fraudsters win.

Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.