SCAMwatch
is warning consumers shopping online for Christmas to watch out for fake
websites selling bogus gifts. Scammers set up sophisticated sites designed to
trick you into thinking they’re the real deal, including using a ‘.com.au’
domain name and stolen Australian Business Number (ABN).
Several
scam shopping sites have already been shut down, but it’s important that you
stay alert to avoid finding yourself out of pocket and a present. The tell-tale
sign is if the site only allows you to pay via money order or wire transfer –
once you send money this way, it’s rare to see it again.
Don’t
let scammers deliver you a nasty surprise this Christmas. When shopping online,
make sure the business that you are dealing with, and their offer, is the real
deal.
How these scams work
While shopping online for Christmas, you come
across a website selling products suitable for gifts.
The product may be a popular item, such as a
smartphone, tablet or camera, at a really cheap price.
The site may appear to be authentic, with a
sophisticated design and content. It may even appear to be an Australian based
business, with a ‘.com.au’ domain name and an Australian Business Number (ABN),
which is likely to have been stolen from a legitimate company.
When you go to pay for your purchase, the
site only offers you to pay via money order or wire transfer, rather than a
secure payment method.
If you go ahead with the ‘purchase’, you will
never receive the product, or see your money again.
Protect yourself
If you come across a website with an offer
that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If a shopping site only offers you to pay by
money order or wire transfer, steer clear - it’s rare to recover money sent
this way. Only pay via secure payment methods – look for a web address starting
with ‘https’ and a closed padlock symbol.
Remember – these days, it’s easy for a
scammer to create a professional looking website. Know who you’re dealing with
before you buy online and, if you have any doubts, don’t go ahead.
If you think you have provided your financial
details or sent money to a scammer, contact your financial institution
immediately.
Source: http://www.scamwatch.gov.au
