As Christmas shopping and Black Friday sales loom, Australian shoppers are again being urged to stay alert for online scams disguised as genuine deals.
Between January and September 2025, the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch service received 159,319 scam reports with financial losses of $259.5 million*.
Shopping scams were the most reported scam type involving financial loss so far this year, with 9,628 of the total 19,662 reports received resulting in $8.6 million in losses. This was an increase of 19 per cent in reported losses from the same period in 2024.
“Scammers love Black Friday sales because they know shoppers are looking for bargains and they rely on creating urgency and pressure that can come with a busy shopping period,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“We remind consumers to take their time, check the legitimacy of websites and its offers, and be cautious about sharing personal or financial information online. A few simple checks before making a purchase can make all the difference in avoiding a scam and keeping your money safe.”
Online content, such as fake websites, advertisements, social media, and mobile apps, was the most common method used by scammers for initial contact, resulting in $122 million in losses, or 47 per cent of overall scam losses.
Some shopping scams involve the compromise of social media accounts to reach unsuspecting victims. Compromised social media accounts are increasingly used by scammers to target victims’ personal networks, particularly on Facebook and Instagram.
After gaining access, scammers impersonate the account holder to promote scams such as fake ticket sales, ‘fire sales’, grant offers, and investment schemes.
They further compromise friends’ accounts by requesting one-time codes under false pretences, enabling a chain of account takeovers.
"We continue to urge Australians to verify who they are communicating with online, as scammers leverage trusted relationships and social platforms to manipulate people into handing over money and personal information”, Lowe said.
“You should be aware that online friend accounts can be compromised, so avoid clicking on any links and always do your own checks before paying money. A good way to check is to contact them through another means, such as by phone or text message. This can also alert your friend so they can take prompt action to recover their account.”
Look out for these warning signs on the shopping sites you visit:
- prices much lower than anywhere else
- spelling mistakes and poor grammar
- no refund or return policy page
- vague or minimal contact information.
The Scamwatch website has recently published resources to provide support to loved ones who may be targeted by scammers, including red flag signs, conversation starters and the manipulation tactics deployed by scammers.
*This represents a 16 per cent increase in losses and a 20 per cent decrease in reports compared to the same period last year.