12 tips to avoid online shopping scams and shop safely year round

Whether it’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday, EOFY, Christmas, Boxing Day, back-to-school, or simply shopping online throughout the year, scoring a bargain is always exciting.

Unfortunately, scammers are just as keen to take advantage of busy shoppers during these peak sales periods – especially as most of us do our shopping online.

In 2024, Australian's lost more than $4.81 million to online shopping scams, and that number is set to rise in 2025, with more than $3.1 million lost in the first half of the year.¹

To help you protect your money and personal information, we’ve put together practical tips to shop safely and avoid scams – no matter the season.

12 tips to shop safely online

1. Avoid clicking suspicious links. Watch out for messages that urge you to click on suspicious links, especially if there’s a sense of urgency involved – urgency is a common trick used by scammers.

2. Be wary of calls. Exercise particular caution if the caller says they’re from the Fraud team, especially if they go on to ask for personal details. If in doubt, call your bank back through their website and ask for the Fraud Team that way.

3. Be sceptical of deals. Be cautious of websites that offer massive discounts on popular brands. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

4. Shop on reputable websites. Stick to well-known retailers with a strong online presence.

5. Keep your software up to date. Regularly update your antivirus software, device operating system, apps, and web browsers to protect against cyber threats.

6. Use strong, unique passwords. Use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords and change them regularly.

7. Don’t connect to suspicious wireless networks. Avoid using untrusted Wi-Fi networks, especially in public places.

8. Educate yourself. Stay informed about common scams and check out ScamWatch for updates on current fraud tactics.

9. Verify the website. Double-check the URL and look for any typos or inconsistencies.

10. Watch out for social media. Be wary of deals promoted on social media, especially from unfamiliar or new accounts.

11. Use secure payment methods. There are dispute resolution processes available for PayPal or your credit card if things go wrong. Here’s a quick guide to shopping securely online.

12. Check your bank statements. Stay on the lookout for unusual transactions and report them to your bank.
     

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If the worst happens, don’t panic. If no goods show up or you suspect you've been a victim of a scam, act quickly. Get in touch with your bank and report the incident to ScamWatch.

If you’re an AMP customer and you think your account has been compromised, alert us immediately. My AMP banking customers please call 13 30 30 or email info@ampbanking.com.au. AMP Bank GO customers please call 1800 950 105 (+61 2 5135 1930 for overseas). You can send us a message 24/7 via the AMP Bank GO app or email us at help@ampbank.com.au.