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

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

This can be especially true during major sales events. In fact, Australians are expected to spend an average of $346 per person during this year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales period, up 6.8% from last year, according to Shopify.

But, unfortunately, scammers are just as eager to capitalise on these exciting shopping periods, especially as more of us turn to online retailers in search of deals.

In the first three months of 2026 alone, Australians lost an estimated $38.3 million, with the majority being lost to online scams, according to ScamWatch.

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 offically website listed number, 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. Using a password manager can help generate and store strong passwords. It can also help to use differrent passwords for every account and to update 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 strange inconsistencies.

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

11. Use secure payment methods. Paypal and other secondary payment proccesses, such as credit cards, can offer dispute resolution processes if things go wrong.

12. Check your bank statements. Stay on the lookout for unusual transactions and report them to your bank if you notice something that doesn't look right.
     

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If the worst happens, don’t panic.

If 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. 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.