With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales just around the corner, it's important to stay safe when shopping online as criminals see these shopping events as an opportunity to try and cash in themselves.
"There were over 20,000 reports of online shopping scams to Scamwatch in 2021, with reported losses exceeding $8 million. This was a 9.5% increase from 2020, and will likely increase this year as scams activity continues to rise," said Laura Hartley, NAB's Group Security Advisory & Awareness Manager.
Tips to stay safe online
Before you enter your card details and pay, stop and ask yourself a few things:
- Is it possible you're on a fake website for an online store?
- Is the price too good to be true?
- Have you done your research and read independent reviews?
If you can't determine if the deal is genuine, it may be better to stick to a reputable online or physical store that you're familiar with.
Watch out for dodgy text messages about parcel deliveries
"Around these key shopping periods every year we see an increase in dodgy phishing messages and spoofing scams that pretend to be from a delivery company. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant," Ms Hartley said.
Keep an eye out for:
- Cyber criminals are known to send fake SMS posing as delivery companies like Australia Post or DHL convincing those who may be expecting a parcel into engaging with them.
- Do not provide any personal / banking details into any links unless you are sure they are legitimate.
