Nearly all shoppers globally plan to do some or all of their holiday shopping online, according to a new report released by Norton that surveyed respondents in 13 countries.
The anti-virus and anti-malware software provider’s “2023 Cyber Safety Insights Report” indicates that despite the majority of shoppers feeling comfortable with online shopping, a third are still wary of doing so.
Another 25 percent aren’t sure of how to shop safely online.
More than half of consumers voice concern about security when shopping online, with 1 in 4 admitting they have been targeted in an online scam.
The top three ways consumers deal with a potential scam during an online purchase include:
- 84 percent were somewhat likely or very likely to abandon a purchase after noticing the website is not authentic;
- 83 percent were somewhat likely or very likely to review the ratings for an online seller before making a purchase;
- 76 percent were somewhat likely or very likely to avoid making online purchases when using public or unsecured Wi-Fi.
Though the types of scams varied, they were typically seen on social media and on third-party websites, respondents noted.
For those who fell victim to a scam, the average damage amount varied by location. In the U.S., the average amount was $1,510, while in Europe, it varied between $200 and $1,000.