Scams spike as Aussie shoppers hunt for online bargains
While hundreds of millions of dollars are being lost to dodgy deals across the country, shoppers are being defrauded online at higher rates.
In the first nine months of 2025, Australians lost nearly $260 million to more than 150,000 separate scams, the consumer watchdog said on Tuesday.
Shopping scams have increased by 19 per cent this year, making them the most common scam and prompting warnings for those looking for Christmas or Black Friday deals online.
“Scammers also love Black Friday sales because they know shoppers are looking for deals,” said Catriona Lowe, deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“They rely on creating the urgency and pressure that can come with a busy shopping season.”
Almost half of all fraud losses result from an online communication, including fake websites, advertisements or social media pages.
Compromised social media accounts, particularly Facebook and Instagram, are being used to target people’s personal networks to build trust in unsuspecting victims.
The warnings come as shoppers prepare for the busiest time of the year in Australian retail, with Black Friday weekend expected to rake in billions of dollars.
According to the retail industry, approximately 6 million people are expected to attend Black Friday sales from November 28 to December 1, with total spending expected to be $6.8 billion.
Australian Retailers Association chief executive Chris Rodwell said buying big-ticket Christmas gifts at cheaper prices was a key driver of Black Friday spending.
“Shoppers are more aware and savvy; they are waiting for big sale events like Black Friday to make larger purchases,” he said.
The traditional American shopping spree is growing in popularity Down Under; Deloitte figures show 44 per cent of Australian retailers are expected to participate in Black Friday; This represents a three percent increase over 2024.
The increased attention on Black Friday has scam watchers uneasy as vulnerable communities report greater financial losses due to exploitation.
The National Anti-Fraud Center said people who speak English as a second language and First Nations communities reported a 35 per cent and 50 per cent increase in losses due to fraud.
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