ns are being told to remain vigilant of scams during the peak November shopping season as fraudsters target online bargain hunters.
Black Friday is a tradition imported from the US, where the Friday after Thanksgiving signals the start of the Christmas shopping period, while Cyber Monday is a more recent addition focusing on electronic goods.
The Black Friday to Cyber Monday retail sales begin in from November 29.
Retail spending across the four days is expected to soar to more than $226million compared to an average November weekend.
Last year, Aussies spent more than $1.46billion during the November sales but also lost more than $330,000 to online shopping scams, according to Scamwatch.
n Retailers Association chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown said scammers would try to mimic genuine websites, but small details will usually give them away such as offering products well below other comparable sites.
She urged shoppers to do their own research and check who they are buying from.
‘We advise shoppers to stick to well-known retailers on websites you trust, to use secure payment methods, to avoid obvious ‘too good to be true’ deals, and to refrain from clicking on suspicious links in emails or texts,’ she said.
More than $3.4million has already been lost to phoney online shopping sites in the first ten months of this year, Scamwatch said.
‘Scammers often exploit popular shopping events like Black Friday, hoping to take advantage of individuals focused on securing a bargain,’ ANZ scams portfolio lead Ruth Talalla said.
‘During seasonal sales, we generally see a rise in fake shopping websites or s pretending to be reputable n retailers, hoping to entice shoppers with highly discounted prices or incredible deals.
‘We encourage customers to take a moment before making any online purchases, whether during a sale or not, and verify the website to ensure the information is legitimate.’
Think before you click:
A legitimate organisation will never request personal information through a link in an email or text message and will always be accessible via an independent desktop search.
Verify the URL:
Ensure links start with https and end with a reputable domain like .org, .com, or .au. If you clicked a link to arrive at the site, perform a secondary search of the official site to confirm its authenticity.
Read independent reviews:
Before entering your card details at checkout, read reviews of the website. Scammers may mimic the branding and layout of reputable brands to deceive shoppers.
Check the payment method:
Be cautious if an organisation asks for payment via gift card. Cyber-criminals often prefer cryptocurrency and gift cards because they are difficult to trace.
Remember:
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. While tempting, heavily discounted offers from your favourite brand should be examined carefully.
If the same discount isn’t available in-store, it’s likely not a genuine deal.
Source: ANZ