The festive season brings joy, generosity, and unfortunately, a spike in online scams. Around Black Friday and Christmas, scammers get busy trying to trick people into giving out money, passwords, or sensitive information. They sometimes pretend to be us, your bank, your telco, or other trusted brands.
We block millions of spam and phishing emails every day, but your quick thinking remains the strongest defence. Please stay alert and remember to:
1. Stop
Scammers rely on urgency and often use messages such as “act now”, “limited time only” or “account suspended.”
- Don’t rush to “click here”. The link could lead to a fake website.
- Avoid paying via phone or email links.
- Never share passwords or account details via phone or email.
2. Check
If something about the message doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and double check.
- Look carefully at the sender’s email address.
- Visit official websites to confirm payments and due dates.
- Enter your username and password on official websites only.
3. Protect
Strengthen your online defence by taking a few proactive steps. Prevention is always easier than recovery.
- Manage your payments to us safely via My Account.
- Use a different password for each service or website.
- If you think you’ve been scammed, reset your password and notify your bank.
Common holiday email scam examples
Delivery notification scams
As online shopping peaks at this time of year, scammers send fake emails claiming there’s a problem with your delivery (e.g. “pay $2.99 to redirect your parcel” or asking you to click a link to “track your parcel”).
Tip: Don’t click links in unexpected messages. Visit the courier’s official website directly to track a delivery.
Charity scams
People can be more generous during the holiday season and scammers can exploit this by creating fake charities or donation requests.
Tip: If you’re asked to donate, go to the official charity’s website directly, and consider checking if the charity is listed on the Australian Government’s ACNC Charity Register).
Fake order confirmations
In the holiday season, scammers know there is an increase in legitimate emails about orders and deliveries, so they try to slip their fake order confirmation requests into your inbox at the same time to catch you off guard.
Tip: If you get an email about something you didn’t buy, or from a brand you don’t recognise, don’t click any links. Visit the retailer’s site directly and log into your account to see if the message is valid.
What to do if you receive a suspicious email
If you receive a message that seems suspicious:
- Do not reply or provide personal information;
- Follow these instructions to report the message as spam or phishing in your email system; and
- Forward it to [email protected] as an attachment.
Stay safe this holiday season
Remember, your awareness is your best protection. Stay alert and if something doesn’t feel right, stop. It’s better to be safe than sorry.