With Australians already almost $4 million out of pocket in 2024 because of online shopping scams, bargain hunters are being warned to be vigilant during end-of-year sales.
Australian Federal Police Commander Graeme Marshall said cybercriminals were becoming more sophisticated and deceptive in their techniques to steal consumer’s personal details and money.
Commander Marhsall said ScamWatch had received more than 13,500 reports of online shopping scams to the end of October, with the total annual numbers expected to increase as more scammers target busy online shoppers at this time of year.
He urged consumers to be vigilant of online shopping scams this holiday season, with “Australians reporting nearly $4 million in losses to this scam type in 2024”.
“An online shopping scam involves cybercriminals creating fake online stores or profiles that appear legitimate, often advertising items at heavily reduced prices.
“They may also post convincing ads on social media, online marketplaces, or fake reviews to deceive customers into making purchases.”
Commander Marhsall said once a buyer places an order, items were either not delivered or fake products were delivered in their place.
“The potential risk to those shopping online increases significantly during the holiday season as cybercriminals seek to exploit time-poor consumers seeking a bargain.
“There are a number of red flags for consumers to look out for to help them avoid becoming a victim of these scams, including unusually low prices compared to other websites, a lack of contact information, and immediate or unusual payment requests.”
Commander Marhsall said cybercriminals would often request payment by bank transfer or cryptocurrency, and some may even request deposits upfront for items.
He said some steps to protect yourself online included:
- Always use a secure payment platform, such as PayPal or credit cards, which offer buyer protection.
- Avoid direct bank transfers or payments through gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Search directly for the official website of the organisation. Don’t rely on ads or the top results in an internet search, as these may lead to fake sites.
- When making a payment look for a website address that starts with ‘https’ and features a closed padlock symbol.
- Research the seller and look for customer reviews on independent websites. Be wary of websites with no reviews, or those with overly positive feedback that seems fake.
- Avoid websites which don’t have any terms and conditions, ABN or privacy policy.
- Be cautious of emails or messages from retailers that ask you to click on links to verify your order. Legitimate companies will not request this.
“If you believe you are the victim of a cybercrime, you should notify your financial institution and report it to police immediately via ReportCyber.”
