The Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are the perfect opportunity to bag a Christmas bargain but it is important to be wary of online shopping scams targeting unsuspecting shoppers.
The Malinauskas Labor Government is warning people to protect themselves from scams and encouraging them to support local businesses when purchasing gifts.
With big online shopping events comes more convincing scams with dodgy sellers often using social media to target unsuspecting shoppers and direct them to fake websites.
These websites can look like legitimate retailers’ websites and we advise checking the URL or searching for the retailer direct in your browser.
Searching for independent reviews of the item can also reveal a fake trader or online shopping scam.
Shopping with local brands you know and trust, while keeping an eye out for unusually low prices, uncommon payment options such as a wire transfer and mock websites, is the best way to avoid being scammed.
More than $6.2 million was stolen from Australians in online shopping scams between January and September 2023, according to the ACCC.
Nationally, shoppers are expected to spend $6.36 billion over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales weekend.
South Australia is home to an incredible array of small businesses – both bricks and mortar and online – and Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to support local retailers when shopping for gifts.
For more information about shopping safely and your rights as a consumer visit: https://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/campaigns/online-sales
As put by Andrea Michaels
The Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are the perfect opportunity to support South Australian retailers with the additional benefit of avoiding the danger of online shopping scams.
With cost of living putting pressure on so many families this Christmas, it is great to be able to take advantage of the sales but people need to be mindful of scams, which are often targeted around major holidays.
Be wary of anything that looks suspicious including unusually low prices and search for retailers’ websites via your browser to ensure they are legitimate.
Shopping with locals brands you know and trust is the best way to avoid being scammed and we have so many South Australian businesses, both online and bricks and mortar, with a fantastic array of gifts this Christmas.
