Cybercriminals are ramping up efforts to scam Australians out of their money ahead of Christmas, with plans to prey on stressed-out families.
Westpac has issued a warning to be extra careful around scams this festive season, as new data reveals that buying and selling scams are up a whopping 47% compared to last year.
These scams are often advertised through fake websites, social media ads and online marketplaces and offer cheap prices to consumers looking to purchase presents for loved ones this Christmas.
With the increase of gift giving around this time of year, these scams are now at their peak according to Westpac’s head of fraud Ben Young.
“Scammers often target customers at this time of year when people are spending more and can sometimes be a bit more distracted.”
Buyers who are seeking out bargains for the festive season should be on high alert for fake offers on highly sought-after products, especially if the price seems too good to be true.
Scams to Look Out For
The ACCC has identified three main types of scams to look out for this festive season:
Classified scams: these target people selling unwanted items via online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, utilising fake profiles and impersonating PayID authorities, and asking sellers to update details or send additional funds to allow a transaction to take place.
Online shopping scams: where thieves create near-perfect replicas of major retailers’ websites to trick consumers and steal sensitive personal and financial information.
Parcel scams: these leverage the fact many people are expecting online shopping orders of gifts over the festive period. Scammers send consumers a fake text about a delayed package or one that requires payment for redirection. They subsequently ask for private information that’s used to scam people by impersonating their bank. The total amount of money lost to parcel scams this year to September ($706,834) is about 12.5 times the amount lost for the entirety of 2022 ($56,216).
If you’re concerned you have become a victim of identity theft or have fallen victim to a scam, you can contact IDCARE, Australia’s national identity and cyber support service.
All are encouraged to report scams to the ACCC’s Scamwatch, regardless of whether they’ve lost money or not.
You can report cybercrimes to the police through the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s online reporting portal.
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