Top five Christmas scams revealed and how to avoid them

The Christmas shopping period is a gift for cyber crooks, and the Assistant Treasurer has revealed the top five scams to be on alert for.

Fake online toy stores, “Hi Mum” text messages and puppy scams are among the most prevalent schemes from heartless crooks seeking to rip off families this year, federal Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has warned.

Describing the Christmas shopping bonanza as a gift for criminals, Mr Jones outlined the five worst scams doing the rounds this year as he urged consumers to be on the lookout.

A common scam returning this year is fake toy shop websites, often posing as a new retailer.

Assistant Federal Treasurer Stephen Jones

Mr Jones said it was best only to shop with trusted websites, paying secured with a credit card or services like PayPal.

A more recent scam plaguing people is the text message starting with “hi mum”, before impersonating a family member claiming to have lost their phone and asking for money.

Parents are advised to communicate via a voice call to ensure the person messaging is who they say they are.

Text messages claiming there is a parcel ready for delivery is another common method, as hackers can take over the phone if the recipient clicks on the link.

Classified advertisements offer “unwanted Christmas gifts for sale” also shows up at this time of year, with consumers cautioned to buy from reputable online auction sites.

Fraudsters selling puppy’s online is also a danger, with those looking for a pet again urged to only adopt via the RSPCA or reputable breeders.

Mr Jones said Australians needed to be particularly wary of scammers at this time of year.

“They will impersonate family members over phones and other communication devices over the holiday period,” he said.

“A few simple steps, like shopping with trusted retailers and calling family rather than texting, can make a big difference.”