As retail booms ring in the season, so do cyber criminals at the ready to trick unsuspecting online shoppers. It is no secret, a seasonal scam will turn your jolly holiday into a nightmare before Christmas. Stay savvy this holiday with our guide to avoiding a shopping scam and staying alert. The following tips are based on the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) online shopping checklist.
Stick To Trusted Stores
The easiest step to avoid a scam is to stick to trusted sellers. These are well-known brands and online stores you have successfully purchased from in the past. Remember – you still need to be vigilant no matter what online store you are using. Check the URL and the branding on the website to make sure it is legitimately the store you believe it to be.
Stay Savvy Of Imposter Stores
Fake sellers are a common sight come Christmas time. As we just mentioned, it is crucial to check the URL address carefully for any typos and check the details on the website including the logos, business name, and contact details. If any elements don’t match up to what you see in their physical stores or legitimate emails to you, you need to question if this website is the real deal or an imposter.
Top Tip: Get to the correct online store by typing the website URL in the browser rather than clicking a link.
Use Secure Payment Methods
When you checkout online, make sure to use a secure payment method such as PayPal or your credit card. ACSC emphasises, “never pay by direct bank deposits, money transfers, or other methods (like Bitcoin)”. If the store you are purchasing from does not offer secure payment methods, we recommend finding a different store to purchase your goodies from as this is a red flag.
Start Checking It Twice
Beyond looking out for an imposter online store, we also want to check the website is secure. If you are on a reputable site, there will be a padlock symbol in the URL bar at the top of the browser and the URL will include ‘https’ at the start of the web address – not ‘http’. The reason for this is HTTPS utilises encryption for a secure connection and has an SSL Certificate. HTTP does not have any security and its plaintext data and information can be easily intercepted – we don’t want to be entering payment details on an unsecured website.
What Else To Know…
It’s easy to get caught up in festivities, captivated with the joyous and sparkly things of the season, and not think twice about the legitimacy of the abundance of beautiful online stores you visit. It is important to note, once a cybercriminal gets hold of your personal or banking details, or has already received your money, it is very unlikely you will be able to retrieve it.
Staying alert online is the best way to avoid a scam this season. Follow this guide and trust your instincts – if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Stick to trusted sellers, check the website is legitimate and secure, and only ever pay via a secure method.
If you suspect you have become a victim of a scam, call your bank immediately and follow their advice to keep your finances safe. From there, you can report the crime to ACSC ReportCyber as an online fraud incident (please read all information on ReportCyber before submitting your report).
