As another year draws to a close, we begin scouring the internet for those perfect holiday gifts. Online shopping continues to increase as we move away from brick-and-mortar stores, and with the developing sophistication of generative AI, the scams are growing too!
The Annual Cyber Threat Report showed that over the last financial year, the average self-reported cost of cybercrime for individuals rose to $33,000 with online shopping fraud accounted for 13% of that statistic!
This gifting season, be aware of the fake sales and suspicious bargains that are simply too good to be true!
Red Flags
They may not always be this obvious, but here are some key red flags to keep in mind while browsing the web, or scrolling through social media:
- A poor quality profile picture, or none at all!
- A dodgy username
- Far more likes than comments or shares
- The accounts that have liked the post also have strange usernames
- Too much emphasis! For example: hefty discounts, limited time offers, “act now”, “while stocks last”, “don’t miss out”
- Unrealistically low prices
- The provided website URL is completely unrelated to the advertised brand or company
- The website URL just looks off – for example, rnicrosoft.com instead of microsoft.com
Requests for details to reserve your spot in line for stock
Double Check
- If you’re interested in a company, search via trusted avenues rather than clicking on links. You’re more likely to get to the correct site, or find out if it’s been flagged as fraudulent in the past!
- Independent evaluations – you can search the website name and see if there are any reports or reviews posted discussing scammer activity
- Thoroughly review the website – does it have an ABN? Does it have a privacy policy, or terms and conditions? Are there any contact details? Does it utilise secure payment methods?
Think you’ve been scammed?
Report it right away! And make sure to alert your bank of any fraudulent transactions to safeguard yourself.
