It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and don’t the scammers know it!
Black Friday (November 26) and Cyber Monday (November 29) sales are becoming increasingly popular for bargain hunters and those keen to get a jump on Christmas shopping.
But online shopping comes with a risk.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre is predicting that Aussies will spend more than $58 billion on pre-Christmas shopping this year.
Now is the time to think before you click “pay”.
Cybercriminals often target online shoppers in a bid to steal their money or personal details. They do this through a variety of methods including:
- Selling products that don’t exist
- Asking for personal and payment information
- Installing malicious software (“malware”) on devices
Sadly, once a cybercriminal has someone’s financial details and receives their money, the cyber fraud victim is unlikely to get their money back or are left without an item they purchased for Christmas.
To make sure your personal details remain safe – and that our members have a safe and successful Christmas shopping experience, The Mutual Bank encourages members to review the important safe online shopping safety information from the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
Their online security shopping checklist has helpful advice on how to stay safe and secure when shopping online using smartphones, computers, and laptops.
By clicking on the link to the checklist you can find more information on how best to:
- Use trusted sellers
- Be aware of fake sellers
- Use secure payment methods
- Check you are using a reputable site.
If you think you’ve been a victim of a scam or cybercrime, report it immediately to The Mutual Bank on 1300 688 825 and the Australian Cyber Security Centre on 1300 CYBER1 or via cyber.gov.au
