Australia’s consumer watchdog has urged people to watch out for online shopping scams this holiday season, with scam losses rising sharply in 2020.
Losses to online shopping scams have increased 42% this year, with almost $7 million in reported losses, according to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Losses on classified websites, such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, have increased 60% this year, to $4.5 million.
ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said scammers create realistic-looking fake websites that offer products at very low prices; victims then receive either a fake item or nothing at all.
Another trick scammers play is to post fake ads on classified websites, often claiming they are travelling and someone else will deliver the goods – but the item never arrives.
Ms Rickard advised consumers to beware of:
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Popular products being sold at suspiciously low prices
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Sellers who request payment through direct bank transfer or cryptocurrency
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Fake Australia Post parcel delivery notifications that ask you to click links and input sensitive information (something Australia Post never does)