Online shoppers will be particularly wary of scammers as Black Friday sales ramp up across the country this week.

Some scammers operate fraudulent websites to steal bank account information, while others target shoppers waiting for packages to be delivered.

Here’s what you need to know:

We are easy targets during selling season

“Fraudsters often exploit popular shopping events such as Black Friday in the hope of taking advantage of individuals looking to secure a bargain,” said Ruth Talalla, head of fraud portfolio at ANZ.

And when people shop online, what they buy comes to them via a delivery service.

Sometimes this comes from Australia Post, but some retailers use dedicated courier services, which can cause confusion for people expecting parcels.

“The period between Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday presents criminals with two opportunities to rip people off in quick succession,” said Chris Sheehan, head of NAB group investigations.

“One when Australians are shopping the sales and another when they are waiting for packages to be delivered.

“They adapt the fraud to what is happening and what people are thinking

“They know people are busy juggling end-of-year celebrations, wrapping up work and school, getting ready for a break, and they’re taking advantage of that.”

According to NAB, debit and credit card scams are most common in November.

According to the bank, the peak time of the week for such scams is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Many people are busy and distracted at this time, making it more likely that they will not notice warning signs, Mr Sheehan said.

“You’re on your way home from work, trying to prepare dinner or pick up kids, and maybe take the opportunity to shop online at the same time,” he said.

“Criminals know this and will target it.

“When you’re multitasking or thinking through your never-ending to-do list, it can be easy to miss that the price sounds too good to be true or that the URL contains extra or strange characters.”

Shopping fraud

Scammers set up websites posing as well-known brands in hopes of luring unsuspecting buyers.

“At this time of year we see a lot of fake websites and social media ads posing as well-known brands,” Mr Sheehan said.

People place an order, pay with their bank card and in most cases nothing arrives.

Shoppers are led to these sites by clicking on ads that scammers have paid for – sometimes they see these ads on social media platforms and sometimes they appear among the links in search engine results.

So be careful which ads you click on and don’t always go to the first link that comes up when you search for a brand name.

And don’t rush the buying process.

“We encourage customers to take a moment before making any online purchases, whether during a sale or not, and check the website to ensure the information is legitimate,” Ms Talalla said.

Warning signs to watch out for:

• Offers that look too good to be true
• Missing or extra letters in website domain names
• Requests to make payments using cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers
• Fake reviews

Postage fraud

Scammers send victims a text message using a technique called “spoofing” to make their questionable message appear in a thread of real messages from Australia Post.

The SMS tells people there is a package waiting for them, but they need to confirm their address before it can be delivered.

This message could contain a legitimate-looking link to a questionable website, like the following example:

The goal of this scam is to steal a person’s credit card information.

For example, the site might tell a victim that they must pay a small fee to have their package forwarded.

And these websites can be really well designed to look like an official Australia Post payment gateway, like the one below:

Warning signs to watch out for:

• You will be asked to click on a link
• Links with incorrect spelling
• Requests for personal information such as banking details and login details

Beware of “dark patterns”

The South Australian government is warning about tactics legitimate businesses use to convince shoppers to spend more money.

Called “dark patterns,” they are legal but can be manipulative.

Here are a few to look out for:

• Hidden costs: Additional fees added at the end of the purchasing process, e.g. B. “preferred processing”
• Currency conversions: Make sure the prices on the website are in Australian dollars
• Indications of scarcity: Pop-ups that create a sense of urgency to get you to purchase the item quickly before comparing prices
• Redirection or nagging: If you intend to leave the website, you may receive pop-ups saying “Wait, don’t leave!” or “Here you get a 20 percent discount if you stay!”

“The best way to avoid falling for these tactics is not to make any hasty purchases – there will always be another sale,” the South African government website says.

What should I do if I think I’ve been scammed?

Discontinue all contact with the scammer and if you are able, no longer make payments or transfers.

Contact your bank immediately.

If you have had personal information stolen or need help recovering from a scam, contact Australian Identity Theft and Cyber ​​Support Service IDCARE on 1800 595 160.

Take care – getting caught up in a scam can be stressful and stressful.

“There is no shame in being scammed,” says the National Anti-Scam Center (NASC).

“It can happen to anyone.”

NASC recommends contacting Lifeline or Beyond Blue if you need assistance.

• Beyond Blue: Use Beyond Blue’s online chat service or call 1300 22 4636
• Lifeline: Use Lifeline’s online crisis support chat service or call 13 11 14

If fraud has led to debt problems, free and confidential financial advisors are available to help you.

You can find free financial advisors in your area on the federal government’s Moneysmart website. You can also call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

How do I report a scam?

Report a scam via an online portal to NASC’s Scamwatch.

You can also make a police report via the Australian Cyber ​​Security Center online portal.

NASC also recommends talking to your family and friends about it.

“It helps to share your experiences so that they can support you and also so that you can help them protect themselves from scams,” it says.

What is Black Friday?

It is the day after Thanksgivinga non-denominational holiday in the United States.

According to Time and Date.com, schools and universities are often closed for the entire Thanksgiving weekend.

But while Thanksgiving is recognized as a federal holiday, the Friday after Thanksgiving is a holiday in only some states.

However, given the trend of stores extending their hours to accommodate crowds of shoppers, retail workers are unlikely to get a break on the day.

Thanksgiving always takes place on the fourth Thursday in November, so the date of Thanksgiving – and therefore the day after – changes from year to year.

When is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is coming up this year November 28th.

What date is Black Friday in 2024?

Black Friday officially falls this year November 29th.

However, if you’re subscribed to retail email lists, you know that Black Friday sales have already started.

What is Cyber ​​Monday?

It is simply a continuation of retail sales.

Cyber ​​Monday began almost 20 years ago as an online version of Black Friday.

This is how the Encyclopædia Britannica explains it:

“The term “Cyber ​​Monday” was first coined in 2005 by the (U.S.) National Retail Federation when it noted that on the Monday after Thanksgiving, people continued their holiday shopping online even while at work, as many people had internet access at that time Faster internet connection at work than at home.

Why is it called Black Friday?

Black Friday is something of a nickname and not an official holiday name like Thanksgiving.

There are a few different origin stories floating around, but the general consensus is that it started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Here is the statement from the English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh:

“The term ‘Black Friday’ was first used by Philadelphia police in 1966 to describe the headaches caused by all the traffic from Christmas shoppers.

“They used the word ‘black’ as a reference to the headache caused by ‘Black Tuesday,’ the date of the great US stock market crash in 1929.

“Some people say that store employees used the term ‘Black Friday’ to refer to the dirty floors caused by all the shoppers the day after Thanksgiving.”

However, some would prefer to say that the name comes from the phrase “back in the black,” because the sales are pushing the profits of retailers that may have been struggling.

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