Australians warned of '12 scams of Christmas' fraud risk

With the holiday season approaching, Australians are being urged to remain vigilant against the threat of scams targeting festive shoppers.

Cyber-security experts from AUCyber have identified what they call the "12 Scams of Christmas," highlighting potential pitfalls for online shoppers as they prepare for the giving season. As the deadline for holiday deliveries looms, these scams have the potential to disrupt what should be a joyful time of year.

The previous festive season saw scammers swindle victims out of an estimated AUD $50 million, according to scamwatch.gov.au. This year, with Australians projected to spend AUD $69 billion on holiday shopping, cyber criminals are seizing the opportunity presented by the increased dependence on digital platforms.

Rafe Berding, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at AUCyber, emphasised the urgency of staying informed and cautious. "There is a staggering number of attempts by scammers trying to steal money away from hard-working Australians. Let's avoid seeing 2024 as another scamming Christmas season," he stated.

AUCyber's list of scams includes several deceptive tactics familiar to online consumers. Parcel delivery scams, for example, involve fraudsters posing as reputable delivery services to request updates or additional fees for supposed deliveries. Another trap is reward point scams, which exploit trust in loyalty programmes like FlyBuys and Everyday Rewards.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) scams are also prevalent, with the promise of false tax refunds luring unsuspecting victims to surrender personal information. Marketplace scams are multifaceted; fake sellers may demand payment before product confirmation, while unscrupulous buyers use stolen credit cards and request refunds that leave sellers at a loss.

Other notable scams targeting individuals this season include toll road scams, romance scams, requests from "family" members claiming lost phones, fake website cons, and fraudulent employment advertisements. Animal lovers should also be wary of fake pet scams when buying pets as gifts.

Additionally, the rise of deepfakes, where artificial intelligence is used to imitate trusted acquaintances or authorities, represents a new frontier in cyber deception.

AUCyber suggests several measures to protect against these scams. These include verifying URLs and staying cautious of unfamiliar links, maintaining careful records of orders and communications, enabling two-factor authentication, and subscribing to Scamwatch alerts for updates on recent threats.

Educating family and friends about the signs and dangers of online scams is also recommended to protect those less experienced with technology.

The financial impact of scams reveals a significant state-by-state discrepancy, with New South Wales reporting losses of AUD $13 million from 12,750 scams, and Victoria close behind with AUD $15 million from 11,170 incidents. Queensland experienced AUD $10 million in losses from 9,419 scams, while Western Australia and South Australia reported AUD $5 million and AUD $2.6 million, respectively.

The Australian Capital Territory's scam losses amounted to AUD $1.4 million, Tasmania recorded AUD $350,000, and the Northern Territory saw the least impact at AUD $170,000. These figures underscore the widespread nature of the threat.

As the festive season draws nearer, AUCyber's cautionary message serves as a critical reminder for everyone to remain aware and informed. Adopting safe online practices will help to ensure that the joy of giving is not overshadowed by the peril of scams.