Ahead of the busy shopping season, the consumer watchdog is warning Aussies to be on the lookout for online shopping scams.
According to the ACCC, Australians have already lost $12.9 million to online shopping including classifieds scams so far this year.
As more people have shopped online during the pandemic, Scamwatch has this year received over 26,000 reports of online shopping scams, more than the total reported through all of 2020.
"This is a very busy time of year, and scammers often try to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers rushing to organise gifts," ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.
"People are often searching for the best deals online, especially in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, so it’s easy to be caught off guard and fall for a scam," she said.
The ACCC said that scammers create realistic-looking fake online stores selling items at heavily discounted prices, however the items are fake, or never delivered to buyers.
Scammers can also create fake stores on social media platforms or post fake ads on legitimate classifieds websites.
Additionally, they may also request payment or offer discounts for payments made through direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency.
Rickard said that when it comes to scammers, if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
"Before you buy, it’s important to be aware of the possibility of scams.
"While some scammers try to make online stores look legitimate by requesting payment via PayPal or credit card, always double check that the real PayPal platform is being used.
"Be suspicious of too good to be true offers and any sellers that ask you to pay by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
"Research the seller and make sure you know who you are buying from.
"Search online for the product or company name, plus “complaint” or “scam” to see what other people are saying.
"If you are buying from a social networking site, check the seller’s history and read reviews from other people who have dealt with them.
"When you’re paying, avoid arrangements that ask for up-front payment via bank transfer, or payment through digital currency, like Bitcoin.
"Always try to use a secure payment service such as PayPal or credit card transaction," she said.
Additionally, scammers may also take advantage of the delays occurring in the delivery system, posing as logistics carriers to scam waiting shoppers.
"Australia Post and other parcel delivery companies will never email, call or text you asking for personal or financial information or a payment," Rickard said.
"Many delivery companies have apps where you can track your parcels rather than clicking on links in messages or emails," she said.
Shoppers of all ages should be mindful of scams, however shoppers aged 25-34 have lost the most money, at $2.4 million.
And while the number of reports of scams involving a financial loss has decreased this year - indicating that Aussies are getting better at recognising an online scam - those that do incur a financial loss are losing more money, with an average loss of more than $1,450, compared to $1,190 last year.
Shoppers who think they have been scammed should contact their bank or financial institution immediately.