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Did you know that Australians lost almost $5m in online shopping scams in 2024?1
In the lead up to Christmas, there are more online sales than ever before. While this is great news for the bargain-hunters among us, scammers are also out in force, and their tactics are getting more sophisticated.
Protect yourself and your money with these helpful tips
- Use secure payment methods
Use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal which offer buyer protection. Avoid paying by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Regularly check your bank and PayPal accounts for suspicious transactions
You can also enable transaction notifications so you can report any unusual activity as soon as it happens.
- Be aware of fake online shops and social media scams
If prices look too good to be true, they probably are. Avoid clicking on links in ads or emails and only buy from established online retailers. Things like poor grammar and spelling can be red flags.
- Watch out for fake delivery emails or texts
Keep a record of the deliveries you’re expecting and from which company so you can easily identify scams. If in doubt, avoid clicking on any tracking links and contact your delivery service directly.
- Do a scam check
Do a scam check using trusted sites like scamwatch.gov.au and make a report if you notice any suspicious activity.
Learn more about how you can stay safe online.
1 ScamWatch, Scam statistics
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