With the cost of living at an all-time high, Australians across the country will be looking to snap up some bargains during the Black Friday-Cyber Monday global retail event, making the internet a scammer’s hunting ground.
Avast research has found nearly three quarters of Australians (72.9 per cent) have received a phishing scam, while just over one in five, (21.8 per cent) have seen an online scam.
Cybersecurity expert at Avast, Stephen Kho, shares his six top tips on how to keep safe while shopping Black Friday sales online this year.
“This growing consumer reliance on the internet for everything from the weekly groceries, luxury goods, and even a new car, combined with the allure of a bargain, has the potential to lead unassuming shoppers down a dangerous path if they don’t remain vigilant and aware of the risks that naturally come with shopping online,” Mr Kho says.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Scamwatch data reveals Australians have lost a reported $6.6 million to online shopping scams in 2022.
This was the third most common scam behind phishing and false billing scams.
“With shopping sales fast approaching, cybercriminals are looking for more ways to get in on the action and take advantage of someone who is simply excited about finding a bargain,” Mr Kho says.
“This excitement can often cloud their ability to do the appropriate research to determine whether or not the sale is legitimate, which is why we, unfortunately, see so many people fall victim to scams and suffer some kind of financial loss.”
Mr Kho’s 6 top tips to help you stay safe while online shopping
- Shop with trusted sellers and watch out for fake apps
Only download apps from official app stores and always type the URL of a website into the address bar so you can be assured you’re on the official page. If you’re looking at a new shop, quickly search to see if any other shoppers have left reviews on its social media pages or review portals.
2. Look out for phishing scams
Always be on alert for suspicious emails and text messages that may promote an attractive deal but contain dangerous links. Do not click on links inside an email or text. Instead, type the URL into a web browser yourself. If you do click on a faulty link, immediately exit the tab.
3. Never store payment information
It’s strongly suggested you deny any requests to store your payment information after completing an online purchase, particularly during holiday shopping.
4. Have a layer of protection in place between credit cards and scammers
Using a third-party payment service, including PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, gives an extra layer of protection and is a good first defence against a scam. However, remember to only shop from your home or phone network and not on public Wi-Fi, so information like passwords cannot be stolen.
5. Stay anonymous
VPN’s uses an encrypted connection that hides your IP address, which keeps predators from seeing any of your personal information and data, including your login credentials, banking details, and identity.
6. Consider the cost
Before you hit checkout, it’s a good idea to open a new tab and look up the same item in other stores to see if the price is similar. If it’s an unfamiliar brand, look up comparable products in the market and see if prices are consistent. If your item is significantly lower than the others, there’s probably a reason why.
So, this shopping holiday season remember – if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Canberra shoppers urged to ‘think before you click’ and buy local (23 November 2022)
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