With the the Black Friday sales fast approaching, many Aussies are preparing to splurge – and scammers are lying in wait to take advantage of them.

Retailers are expecting a $69.7 billion boost in sales during the six weeks leading up to Christmas, including a record $6.7 billion spend during the four-day Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales period (November 29 to December 2), according to Roy Morgan research.

But the increase in shopping, much of which will likely happen online, creates a prime opportunity for scammers to find new victims.

Logistics company Interparcel CEO Steve Zammit said scammers often craft highly-sophisticated schemes to trick people into handing over personal and financial details.

These can range from fake delivery notifications to fraudulent websites.

Brisbane-based music artist Rebecca Callander experienced the dangers last year, and narrowly avoided losing $23,000.

The Brisbane musician had a close call with scammers. Photo: Rebecca Callander

After doing some online shopping, Callander received a text message claiming to be from Australia Post, asking her to update her delivery address, date of birth and card details through a link which took her to a website that looked “completely legitimate”.

“I entered my details to pay the $3.80 postal fee, thinking I had made an error with my postcode and that my package would be re-delivered,” she said.

“As soon as I pressed ‘confirm’ to process the fee, I tried to access the ‘contact information’ button, but nothing happened. I then started clicking on other tabs, only to realise that the webpage was not fully functional and was merely designed to collect information.

“That’s when I contacted my bank and immediately froze all my accounts.”

Callander’s bank swiftly froze her accounts before the would-be scammers could access her $23,000 savings, which she had worked hard to accrue in order to travel overseas and advance her career.

But to her anger and frustration, her personal information could still have been compromised and sold to a third party.

@hi_im_beks Aus post scram for anyone expecting online shopping #scam ♬ original sound – Beks

“If these scammers had succeeded, it would have derailed my career progression, forcing me to start projects from scratch,” Callander said.

“It’s infuriating to think that some business or platform I interacted with at some point likely leaked or sold my personal information. I felt like a fool.

“The first thing I thought of was my grandmother and other family members. If I could fall for a scam like this, then someone less tech-savvy, like my grandmother, easily could too.”

Scam victims can be anyone

While Callander avoided taking a financial hit, not everyone is so lucky.

Australians lost more than $208 million to 198,126 scams between January to September, according to Scamwatch.

The most-used method of contact from scammers was text messages, followed by emails and phone calls; victims’ ages ranged from under-18 to 65 and over, although the latter group reported the most scams.

The real number of scams and money lost is likely much higher; in 2022, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission estimated only about 13 per cent of scams were reported, with some Australians too embarrassed to come forward.

How to stay safe

With big sales ahead, Zammit said shoppers should be extra cautious if they receive unsolicited communications, especially if those are overly-demanding, requesting immediate payment, or asking for personal information.

“If something doesn’t seem right, such as an email address or tone of voice, you should always verify the legitimacy of emails or messages by contacting the company directly through official channels, such as their website, customer service line or mobile apps,” he said.

Source: Scamwatch

“The key is to remain vigilant, trust your instincts, and avoid engaging with unverified sources.”

KnowBe4 security awareness advocate Jacqueline Jayne previously gave TND tips on how to avoid scams around sales periods, including:

• Don’t click links: Scammers can make their emails or texts look like they’re coming from legitimate sources, including banks. Rather than clicking on a link in a message, spend a few more seconds manually searching for an official website and proceeding through there.
• Only buy from official websites: Pay attention to website addresses to check if anything looks strange, and never follow a pop-up ad.
• Use a third-party to pay: Third-party payment service such as PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, could give you an extra layer of protection by making your transaction more “traceable”. Having a separate account specifically for online shopping could also protect you from losing a larger amount of money if someone does manage to access your account.
• Do your research: If shopping from an unfamiliar website, search for the same or similar products on more trusted websites. If the product is not available anywhere else, look for reviews. If a deal looks to good to be true, it probably is.
• Take a breath: If an email or SMS triggers an emotional response that makes you want to buy something as soon as possible, take some time to think the purchase through.