If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Online shopping has become a global phenomenon, with retail e-commerce sales projected to soar beyond 9.5 trillion Australian dollars in 2024. Whether you’re hunting for bargains or decluttering your garage, it’s important to stay savvy.
Just like in any bustling marketplace, there are a few things to watch out for. Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Carsales are happening hubs where legitimate transactions are completed daily. However, lurking among the genuine deals are scammers looking to take advantage. Read on for our best tips on how to shop and sell safe online.
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Stay informed and stay safe.
Red flags.
- Suggesting you transfer a negotiation on an alternate site such as WhatsApp or Messenger, as conversations on these sites are very difficult to monitor.
- Give excuses about payments being delayed. Don’t fall for the “delayed payment” dance.
- If they claim to have overpaid and need an immediate refund, get suspicious. They might not have sent a cent.
- Saying they work in the armed forces or are travelling overseas so you can only negotiate via email.
- Demanding payment by gift card is like paying with seashells. Fishy..
- Asking for your identification documents such as drivers licence, passport or Medicare Card details.
Buyer beware.
- Bargains are great, but if it’s way under market price, its a red flag.
- People asking you to pay for the item before you see it, not just a picture of it. Don’t pay blindfolded
- Being asked to pay in cryptocurrency or with a gift card.
- People selling things that are not theirs.
Savvy sellers.
- People asking you to pay for the freight, saying they’ll reimburse you.
- Offering way over asking price? Forget about it.
- People saying they’ve overpaid you & want a refund immediately.
- Emails or pictures showing “proof” of funds transfer. Wait for the real deal—money in your account—before shipping the goods.
For more information, please visit Be Connected – Introduction to buying and selling online – a free Australian Government resource.
Staying scam aware.
Scammers use various tactics to steal money or information, posing as trusted contacts, sending deceptive messages, or resorting to threats. To stay scam safe, don’t trust claims without verification, avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments, and cut contact if threatened.
Remember: Stop. Think. Protect. Pause before sharing information, question if the message is authentic, and act quickly if something feels wrong.
How business email compromise scams can affect you
Recently, a Summerland Bank customer fell victim to an email scam after paying a fake invoice received through email. Scammers had altered the bank details in the email and deceived the customer.
