By Rachel Clun
Shoppers have been warned to look out for fake websites masquerading as genuine online stores for well-known brands, with impersonation scams on the rise as criminals target people searching for Christmas gifts.
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said Australians had lost millions to online shopping scams already this year, and scammers would be trying to exploit shoppers further over Christmas and the new year.
Scammers will be looking to exploit shoppers during the holiday period.Credit: iStock
“Scammers are heartless criminals and take advantage of the generosity and trust of people – we encourage everyone to educate themselves and remain vigilant,” he said.
Data from the consumer watchdog found more than 70 per cent of the nearly 235,000 scams reported between January 1 and the end of September were impersonation scams, which have cost Australians $92 million this year.
Jones said people should be wary of popular products being sold for much lower than normal prices, websites missing standard information such as a “contact us” or “terms and conditions” page, reviews with high ratings but little detail, and sellers asking for payments via direct bank transfer.
Other common scams people should be aware of during the holiday period included being asked to update delivery details or arrange parcel collections via a link, and fake toll payment notices.
Fake classified ads that tricked people into buying non-existent products, such as requesting a down payment for a puppy, were also popular with scammers around Christmas.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission data showed most scammers contacted victims via text message, followed by phone calls and online.
Jones said the federal government was working to protect Australians against scammers. It opened consultation this month on new industry codes that would require a broader swath of businesses, including banks and companies with digital platforms, to address scams.
To avoid scams, he said people should think about whether a website or item could be fake, search for independent reviews to verify deals, and quickly contact their bank if they believed they had lost money to a scammer.
“The top tip I always say to people is: don’t click the bloody blue link,” Jones said.
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