East End borough revealed as most at risk to online shopping scams
Tower Hamlets in east London is the area most exposed to online shopping scams, according to cybersecurity experts.
VNPOverview has pinpointed the borough as having the highest percentage of online shoppers in the UK, after an analysis of official data.
It estimated that 90.68 per cent of people over 18 in the borough are preparing to buy gifts online this year, making them potential targets for scams.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that Tower Hamlets has one of the largest proportions of people aged between 25 and 34 years old, who make up a third of the population over 18.
Official figures also showed that 99 per cent of people in the age group shop online, contributing to making the East End borough the area most exposed to cyber scams.
Islington was deemed the area at the second highest risk, with 90.22 per cent of its total population likely to make purchases online this Christmas.
The two London areas were followed by Manchester and then Hackney and Lambeth in fourth and fifth places.
On the flip side, North Norfolk was the area identified as the lowest risk of online scams, with 80.60 per cent of its population set to shop online. Residents over 55-years-old make up nearly half of the population.
A spokesperson from VPNOverview said: “Online shopping scams are particularly prevalent around Christmas as scammers know that more people than ever will be looking to buy gifts over the internet.
“Even if you’re a regular online shopper it’s still vitally important to remain vigilant and aware of the different threats that criminals can pose online, whether that is through phishing, social media scams or a variety of other methods.”