UK Scotland Yard Cyber-Cops Battle to save X-MAS

UK cybercops have managed to dismantle more than 2,000 fraudulent shopping websites that have ripped off thousands.

The Met’s Police Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU) hopes smashing the online rogue traders will make online shopping in the run-up to Christmas much safer. The dodgy sites targeted by the action purported to sell a raft of designer goods, including brands such as Nike, GHD, Tiffany and Ugg at bargain prices. In reality many of the sites either took money without delivering the goods or supplied knock-offs.

Detective Inspector Paul Hoare of the PCeU commented: “The sites suspended are registered in bulk by crime groups with the sole intention of duping consumers into parting with their money for, at best, poor quality counterfeit goods, or, at worst, nothing at all. In the run up to Christmas the PCeU will continue to work with Nominet and others to disable as many such sites as possible, but I would urge customers to take all precautions to ensure they buy from legitimate sites only.”