Warning over post-Christmas scams eerily mimicking real Australian sites
Australians have been warned of post-Christmas scams after more than 4000 fake websites of popular fashion brands were identified.
Researchers at Avast have found opportunistic scammers have tried to prey on the current sales and discount season by purporting to be retailers like Ted Baker, Veja, Merrell, Carhartt, Doc Martens and Skims.
The eerily legitimate-appearing sites have tried to extort personal and payment information when customers either create an account or place an order.
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Avast has identified 4000 scam websites of retailers, including fashion brand Ted Baker. Supplied
The scammers are taking advantage of the current post-Christmas sales and discounts. Supplied
To add to their credibility, the websites also have a high search ranking and reviews.
Avast cybersecurity expert Stephen Kho said post-Christmas sales are a "feeding ground" for criminals preying on Australians looking for a bargain.
He said it was important to stay educated as scammers put increasing effort into making fake sites look clean and professional.
"There's less and less of those spelling mistakes, the colours or the fonts not being correct when they mimic a website," he said.
"The only thing that is hard for scammers to fake is the URL."
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Australians can use a PayPal, Google Pay or Apple Pay account when placing online orders for an added layer of protection. Getty
Customers should check the URL for whether an Australian brand has ".au" at the end, a "https" at the beginning or whether there are slight spelling mistakes.
"You have to be ultra-careful and paranoid to pick up on the differences these days," Kho said.
"It's doing a double take."
Australians can use a PayPal, Google Pay or Apple Pay account when placing online orders for an added layer of protection, ask their bank for online safety options, use a second low-limit debit card and install reputable anti-virus software.
They are also encouraged to report any scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or their bank and police if they fall victim to a fraud.
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