
If the cost of living crisis has you seeking ways to stretch your dollar further, you’re not alone. Australians across the nation are feeling the pinch. For many, this can overshadow the typical excitement of the upcoming holiday season with concern about how it will hit their bank account.
In times like this, scammers are well aware of our concerns and are strapping in for a lucrative holiday season. It’s more important than ever to remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. But scepticism isn’t enough, we need updated information, too.
Follow and implement our guide below to have a scam-free holiday season this year.
Avoid public Wi-Fi and networks
Public Wi-Fi is often free but typically unsecured. We’ll avoid the technicality of how unsecured networks work, but you need to know they can be accessed by anyone who can jump in and steal your private and financial information. Instead, make sure you’re always using a virtual private network (VPN) when browsing and shopping online.
VPNs are a highly cost-effective investment against scams. Considering that you can mitigate the VPN cost with as little as one less coffee a month, equipping yourself with this cyber tool is a no-brainer.
What is a VPN exactly? VPN technology works by creating a private, impenetrable tunnel between you and a secure server. Your data is scrambled with a VPN, so even if it could be accessed, it would be useless to scammers. With this in mind, VPNs really are foundational to protecting your information when shopping online.
Purchase directly through authentic retail sites
Australians lost over $6.2 million in 2023 due to online shopping scams, many of which were misleading deals and counterfeit products. Everyone has different online shopping styles. Some of us like to browse social media to find ideas. Others scroll through online marketplaces. Whichever way you approach your search, make sure you always return to the original retailer or a trusted, genuine retail site when you purchase.
Once you find the perfect gift, you might be tempted to search for the best deal online. If you do this, be mindful of which site you land on. Many sites can pose as authentic and distribute counterfeit versions of the original or take your money and never send the product. To stay safe, head directly to the original brand’s website or big-name retailers.
Check for grammar errors and poor design on sites
Following the above point, scam sites often try to imitate genuine sites. When you’re on an e-commerce website, some key giveaways that it’s a fraudulent website are grammar and typing errors and poor website design. If site speeds are slow, the design isn’t consistent, the images are of bad quality, or any other design elements raise concern, it might be fake.
You should also check the URL to make sure there are no suspicious additions. To check if the URL matches the official brand, enter the brand into a search engine search and check if the URL matches. For example, if you’re buying a pair of Nike shoes, check that the page you’re on is www.nike.com and not anything else.
Think before clicking links
Vigilance is a key theme throughout this guide. If you’re online shopping, you’re probably already familiar with many tech-focused scams, like phishing emails. What is often neglected in these discussions is how phishing emails have extended to phishing SMS, pop-ups, advertisements, and even marketplace messages. These communications may appear to be specifically addressed to you, often offering discounts, freebies, or requests to view photos. They might even imitate the name and address of someone you know.
Once again, stay vigilant for text messages, emails, and pop-ups directing you to a new page, no matter who it says it came from. If it’s an email, you can check the email address or mobile number thoroughly and hover the mouse over the link to see the real website address. If anything looks suspicious, delete the message. If in doubt, you can contact the company or person directly on their official channels.
Use secure payment options
Genuine retail websites will include secure payment options in their checkout forms. If you want to be extra safe, opt to pay only via PayPal or a credit or debit card. If you’re unsure about the platform that the e-commerce site uses, search the software in your search engine for more details. Always avoid retailers asking you to pay strictly by gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Check reviews
If you have found a bargain from a secondary retailer, do your research and read reviews to verify the retailer’s authenticity. You can check the website’s Google reviews to see customer feedback. It’s a good idea to check if the website has been associated with any scams by entering the site name into your search engine with “scam” included in the search.
Monitor your account activity
From now until Christmas time, your bank account might jump around more than usual. That’s normal. But during times of high fluctuations and delayed payments, it’s hard to notice discrepancies. This is the best time to monitor your bank account activity to spot any unusual transactions and report them to your bank as soon as possible. Doing so can help your bank track down fraudulent behaviour, document the case, and reimburse the money.
Knowledge, software and vigilance: the best defence against holiday scams
Scammers are indeed becoming more innovative and harnessing more channels than ever before. Luckily, their attempts can be met with a defence of equal intelligence and grit. Staying informed about how common scams have evolved and the best way to combat them, as mentioned in this article, can protect you. By using a VPN when shopping online, remaining vigilant of where and how you purchase items, and avoiding clicking any suspicious links, you can enjoy a holiday period that’s free from stress and scams.
Image: Supplied
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Digital Next