Sydney, 26 December 2024 – As Aussies prepare to snag Boxing Day deals, new PayPal research reveals risky shopping practices are up 9% from last year. While attempting to save time, 3-in-4 (73%) Australians are joining the droves of distracted shoppers, potentially making them easier targets for scammers. As nearly 2-in-5 (38%) plan to shop today's Boxing Day deals, Aussies may want to limit their urge to Netflix and click.
Multitasking while shopping could mean increased risk
The research uncovered concerning habits with 4-in-10 (43%) Aussies admitting to shopping online while watching TV or streaming video, lying in bed at the end of the day (43%), at the office or working from home (35%), on public transport or in a car (29%) and shopping online while being physically in store (25%).
During this busy time, it's tempting to multitask – but with it comes increased risk. According to the Australian Signals Directorate, online shopping fraud is the second most reported type of fraud in Australia after identity fraud.
Aussies heading online by the masses to grab a bargain
Australians see a lot of benefits for shopping the Boxing Day sales online rather than in-store, with the top reason being to avoid the crazy crowds (49%). Shoppers are also eager to compare prices online (48%), shop from the comfort of their own homes (37%) and skip the traffic (30%).
PayPal urges Australians to pay close attention when shopping online as sales periods invite new opportunities for scammers. One-in-10 (10%) Aussies report making an online purchase through a fraudulent website, with 3-in-10 (30%) Australians saying they've been lured to visit a fake website. Cyber criminals are also using social channels, with a third of Aussies (38%) reporting they've been contacted by a fake social media profile.
Bonnie Brady, Consumer Shopping Expert at PayPal Australia explains: "One of the biggest risks of online shopping is encountering fake online stores, set up by fraudsters to steal money or personal information. In this day of AI, these fake retail sites can look very convincing. We all love the online sales and they're a great way to get a deal, but it's important for Australians to stay focused and ensure they're buying from legitimate retailers."
Click with caution this Boxing Day
PayPal's research found nearly half (45%) of Aussies are feeling heightened concern about falling victim to scams, especially as scammers get more savvy, leveraging AI to do their bidding and making scams harder to detect. Alarmingly, nearly all (91%) of Australians have encountered a scam, with email (77%),
