Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Scam warning for boozy Xmas shoppers
Online Christmas shoppers have been warned about the dangers of drinking and clicking after a survey found they could be opening the door to would-be scammers.
November 25, 2020
Online Christmas shoppers have been warned not to drink and click after a survey found they were more likely to fall victim to internet scams than if they were sober.
It’s a hidden risk this festive season, with a poll of 2000 Australians finding 55 per cent were more likely to click on promotional links or special deals while drinking, potentially opening the door to would-be scammers.
“We’re not saying adults shouldn’t enjoy a drink this season, we’re simply saying click responsibly,” Crispin Kerr from cybersecurity company Proofpoint said on Wednesday.
“Cybercriminals are active all year round. Christmas is no exception.
“Leave the drinks until after the online shopping is done.”
Losses from online shopping scams jumped 42 per cent to almost $7 million this year compared to 2019, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Despite the increase, 67 per cent of people surveyed said they’ll do all or some of their Christmas shopping online this year, with 40 per cent saying the convenience of buying online outweighs the cybersecurity risks.
Mr Kerr said shoppers should be on the lookout for scammers, who often use well-known brand names to hide their true identity in a bid to trick consumers into clicking on fake promotional links or to download malicious attachments.
“Be vigilant, look out for things like poor grammar and spelling, wrong domains and treat all unsolicited emails with caution,” he said.