This year, Australians are predicted to spend over $58 billion on pre-Christmas shopping – an increase of around 11% on 2019 pre-pandemic spending, according to the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan.
Although online shopping is convenient and the preferred way to shop for many Australians, it comes with a risk.
Cybercriminals often target online shoppers in a bid to steal money or personal details. They do this through a variety of methods including:
- Selling products that don’t exist
- Asking for personal and payment information
- Installing malicious software (“malware”) on devices
Why should you be secure when online shopping?
Once a cybercriminal has your financial details or receives your money, you are unlikely to get it back. Not only will you be disappointed when your goods don’t arrive, you will also have lost the money used to buy the pretend items.
How can you be secure when online shopping?
The best way to stay secure while shopping online is to know how to look for suspicious websites and boost your protective security measures.
To shop online securely, follow the online shopping checklist below:
Use trusted sellers
Research online shopping websites before you buy and stick to well-known trusted brands.
Be aware of fake sellers
Check logos, business names, URL addresses and contact details against the company’s website. If they don’t match up, have different sizing or colours, steer clear! Type the web address into your browser instead of clicking on a link.
Use secure payment methods
Pay by PayPal or your credit card. Never pay by direct bank deposits, money transfers or other methods (like Bitcoin).
Check to make sure it is a reputable site
Look for the padlock symbol and ‘https’ at the start of the web address (not http).
Fore more information visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre website.
