There is a lot of madness around at this time of the year but Barclays has some advice to help make sure you don’t get caught out by festive fraud.

The bank has warned the UK is facing the most fraudulent Christmas ever as online scamming becomes more and more prevalent.

Festive fraud victims across the UK are predicted to lose around £1.3bn this year just from not knowing how to identify a secure website.

Frauds and scams are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and Barclays has some tips on how to stay safe and secure this Christmas.

What can you do to ensure online security this year?

Look out for the padlock symbol and ‘https’ in the address bar on retailers’ websites

Watch out for deals that look too good to be true

Never use public wi-fi to purchase Christmas shopping online

Never give out your PIN or online banking password – legitimate websites won’t ask for it.

Keep an eye on your bank balance so that you can spot and report fraudulent transactions quickly

So be on high alert for fraud this year to guarantee a perfect Christmas, just double check before buying and if you think something looks wrong, trust your gut.

What else can you do to stay safe?

Beware of fake online shops - Look for online reviews and a contact number. If it has neither than this is a warning sign.

Charity phishing - Scammers know that you will feel charitable at this time of the year. If you want to give to good causes at Christmas, go through the charity in question’s own site.

Fake delivery emails - With so many deliveries being made it would be easy to get confused by all the delivery emails. Scammers know this and send out emails that purport to come from legitimate courier companies. These ask recipients to click on a link. When they do, they download malware or are taken to a scam site.

E-voucher scams - These are often shared on social media or email and claim to offer free vouchers from well-known brands. Potential victims are told that, to claim a voucher, all they need to do is click on a link. This can take them to a fake site where they will be asked for their details.

So be on high alert for fraud this year to guarantee a perfect Christmas.

Just double check before buying and if you think something looks wrong, trust your gut.