Beware of these Black Friday and Cyber Monday online scams
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As the holiday season approaches, Australian shoppers are eagerly awaiting the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
Shoppers are reportedly expected to spend a whopping $6.36 billion during the sales this weekend, and this massive influx of online shopping activity provides a fertile ground for scammers to cash in.
However, amidst the excitement of snagging a great deal, it's crucial to stay vigilant as scammers are increasingly using fake online shopping websites to trick customers into handing over personal financial details.
The National Anti-Scam Centre has also recently reported a worrying increase in reports of fake websites mimicking well-known brands.
This year alone, there have been 2,760 reports of fake online stores that have resulted in losses of over half a million dollars.
These scams are sophisticated, using the latest technology to make the sites appear like genuine online retail stores of popular Australian fashion and footwear brands, warned Catriona Lowe, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
'Scammers are opportunistic criminals who will try to take advantage of people doing their Christmas shopping online during the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday period,' Lowe said.
'A disturbing new trend is that scammers are paying for their fake websites to appear at the top of your internet search.'
'This means you can't necessarily trust the first listing you see,' she added.
The National Retail Association estimates that 10 per cent of the festive season spending will occur during the four-day Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
A recent survey by Finder of over 1,000 Australians found that almost one in three people, equivalent to six million individuals, plan to spend big this weekend.
To stay safe, Lowe encouraged consumers to familiarise themselves with the site addresses of their favourite brands and head there directly to shop the sales.
Understanding Online Shopping Scams
Online shopping scams involve scammers pretending to be legitimate online sellers, either with a fake website or a fake ad on a genuine retail site.
The scammer's goal is to steal your money and personal information. They may even pretend to sell a product just to gather your credit card or bank account details.
Scammers often use the names of well-known brands to create their fake websites. They may use sophisticated designs and layouts, possibly stolen logos, and even a '.com.au' domain name.
The website might look professional and have a range of products, often at attractive prices.
However, the products you purchase will either arrive and be fake or not arrive at all.
Protecting Yourself from Online Shopping Scams
Here are some tips to protect yourself while shopping online:
1. Know the seller: If you haven't shopped with a particular seller or website before, do some research. Look for reviews or complaints about the seller or online store.
2. Secure your online transactions: Look for secure transaction symbols such as a lock symbol in the Internet browser window frame, 'https://' at the beginning of the website address, or a green address bar.
3. Be wary of unsolicited emails: Scammers can send emails posing as legitimate businesses. If you receive an email from a sender you don't recognise, ignore it.
4. Use secure payment methods: Always use a secure payment method, such as PayPal or a credit card. Avoid money transfers and direct bank deposits.
5. Check your bank account: Regularly check your bank account and credit card statements to ensure no unauthorised transactions.
Aside from online retail scams, delivery scams have also been reported to increase during the holidays.
During the 2022 holiday season, ScamWatch and Australia Post warned against a delivery scam that alleges a parcel being unable to be delivered, thus prompting a victim’s postal details to be updated.
In response, Australia Post reiterated that it would never:
Stay safe this holiday season, and shop smart, dear members! Be sure to stay updated on the latest news regarding scams through our scam watch forum or through the National Anti-Scam Centre’s website.
Have you ever encountered an online shopping scam? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
Shoppers are reportedly expected to spend a whopping $6.36 billion during the sales this weekend, and this massive influx of online shopping activity provides a fertile ground for scammers to cash in.
However, amidst the excitement of snagging a great deal, it's crucial to stay vigilant as scammers are increasingly using fake online shopping websites to trick customers into handing over personal financial details.
The National Anti-Scam Centre has also recently reported a worrying increase in reports of fake websites mimicking well-known brands.
Scammers have been creating fake websites mimicking well-known brands to trick holiday shoppers. Image source: cardmapr from unsplash
This year alone, there have been 2,760 reports of fake online stores that have resulted in losses of over half a million dollars.
These scams are sophisticated, using the latest technology to make the sites appear like genuine online retail stores of popular Australian fashion and footwear brands, warned Catriona Lowe, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
'Scammers are opportunistic criminals who will try to take advantage of people doing their Christmas shopping online during the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday period,' Lowe said.
'A disturbing new trend is that scammers are paying for their fake websites to appear at the top of your internet search.'
'This means you can't necessarily trust the first listing you see,' she added.
The National Retail Association estimates that 10 per cent of the festive season spending will occur during the four-day Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
A recent survey by Finder of over 1,000 Australians found that almost one in three people, equivalent to six million individuals, plan to spend big this weekend.
To stay safe, Lowe encouraged consumers to familiarise themselves with the site addresses of their favourite brands and head there directly to shop the sales.
Understanding Online Shopping Scams
Online shopping scams involve scammers pretending to be legitimate online sellers, either with a fake website or a fake ad on a genuine retail site.
The scammer's goal is to steal your money and personal information. They may even pretend to sell a product just to gather your credit card or bank account details.
Scammers often use the names of well-known brands to create their fake websites. They may use sophisticated designs and layouts, possibly stolen logos, and even a '.com.au' domain name.
The website might look professional and have a range of products, often at attractive prices.
However, the products you purchase will either arrive and be fake or not arrive at all.
Protecting Yourself from Online Shopping Scams
Here are some tips to protect yourself while shopping online:
1. Know the seller: If you haven't shopped with a particular seller or website before, do some research. Look for reviews or complaints about the seller or online store.
2. Secure your online transactions: Look for secure transaction symbols such as a lock symbol in the Internet browser window frame, 'https://' at the beginning of the website address, or a green address bar.
3. Be wary of unsolicited emails: Scammers can send emails posing as legitimate businesses. If you receive an email from a sender you don't recognise, ignore it.
4. Use secure payment methods: Always use a secure payment method, such as PayPal or a credit card. Avoid money transfers and direct bank deposits.
5. Check your bank account: Regularly check your bank account and credit card statements to ensure no unauthorised transactions.
Aside from online retail scams, delivery scams have also been reported to increase during the holidays.
During the 2022 holiday season, ScamWatch and Australia Post warned against a delivery scam that alleges a parcel being unable to be delivered, thus prompting a victim’s postal details to be updated.
In response, Australia Post reiterated that it would never:
- Call, text or email you asking for personal or financial information, including password, credit card details or account information.
- Call, text or email you to request payment.
- Ask you to click on an email link to print off a label to redeem your package.
Have you ever encountered an online shopping scam? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
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