Avast warns of surge in fake online shops in Australia

Cyber security firm Avast has warned of a sharp rise in fake online shops targeting Australian consumers during the summer sales and Christmas period.

The company said it blocked more than 430,000 attempts to access fraudulent eCommerce sites in Australia during the last holiday season. It said many of the sites posed as well-known brands and promoted heavy discounts.

Avast reported that the scams coincided with growing concern among shoppers. A survey it commissioned found 61% of Australians feared being scammed by third-party online retailers. The same survey found 57% were concerned about scams that use artificial intelligence in shopping contexts.

The fake sites often operate as so-called "ghost stores". These sites take personal and payment details from shoppers but do not deliver the advertised goods. Some victims receive fake or low-quality products.

Avast researchers said the scam shops imitate brands in sectors such as fashion, electronics and groceries. The company said recent lookalike websites had impersonated brands including Lorna Jane, NET-A-PORTER, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, IKEA and Harris Farm.

"Fake e-shops are becoming increasingly sophisticated and, for many Australians, increasingly hard to spot," said Stephen Kho, Cyber Security Expert, Avast.

Kho said scammers copy designs and marketing material from genuine brands. "Scammers copy trusted brands, mirror real discounts and design their sites to look polished and legitimate and on top of this, AI is making it easier to develop these fake online stores fast. When people are busy or rushing to secure a deal, it only takes one quick checkout to hand over personal or financial information."

Rising scam fears

The Dynata survey for Avast covered 1,000 Australian adults. The responses were weighted by age, gender and region. The results suggested high levels of anxiety about online fraud during peak shopping periods.

Avast said many of the fake shops appear in search results or via social media adverts. Some are also promoted through unsolicited emails and instant messages. The sites often feature countdown timers and limited-time sales that aim to pressure shoppers into quick purchases.

The company said many of the fake sites use convincing product images and replicate current discount levels from genuine retailers. Some use domain names that closely resemble official brand URLs. Many also include fake customer reviews or copied content from legitimate sites.

Warning signs

Avast researchers have urged shoppers to examine websites carefully before entering any personal details. They said this includes checking for spelling errors, inconsistent branding, unusual email contacts and overly aggressive discount offers.

The company advised shoppers to confirm that web addresses start with "https" and match the official retail domain. It also suggested searching for independent customer reviews outside the site itself.

Avast recommended that consumers avoid entering card details on unfamiliar sites if only one payment option is available. It said reputable stores usually offer several secure payment methods.

The company said shoppers should be cautious during major discount events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day sales. High-pressure messaging and large discounts can make it harder for people to notice irregularities.

It also encouraged Australians to report suspicious eCommerce sites to Scamwatch. The agency collects scam reports and issues public alerts. Reports can help remove fraudulent sites more quickly.

"If the offer sounds unbelievable, slow down - that hesitation is often what stops a scam," Kho added. "Always double-check the URL, search for independent customer reviews and never let a timer pressure you into a quick purchase."

Scam education push

Alongside its warning, Avast has launched an online awareness campaign called "The 12 Days of Scam-mas". The series runs as short animated episodes on YouTube.

Each episode is about one minute long. The videos use rhyme-based stories based on real holiday scams.

The first episode focuses on fake e-shops. It outlines how the scam sites operate. It also sets out common tactics used by fraudsters and basic steps that shoppers can take.

Avast said it designed the episodes for quick sharing in family group chats, community forums and messaging threads. It said the format aimed to make scam information accessible across different age groups.

The 12-part series covers several types of seasonal fraud. Topics include fake online stores, AI chatbot scams, charity scams, romance scams, pet purchase scams and parcel delivery scams.

Avast said new episodes in the Scam-mas series would appear daily during the campaign window.