FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY | Scams To Watch Out For This Christmas
SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR THISChristmas
Words 10 Ellen Media
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here are unfortunately numerous scams to keep a careful eye on this season. Christmas is a time for joy and celebration, no one deserves to get caught in a situation where they’re taken advantage of. Scammers tend to weave their way into our lives when we least expect it. So, to reduce your worries, we have compiled a list of the current deceptive scams you should know. Even the most aware people can get caught in these manipulative scams so stay alert and protect yourselves and families this festive season.
With this knowledge, scammers will be on the lookout to con money from frantic and rushed shoppers who most likely won’t consider this as a possibility while they continue to quickly add items to their cart. So how do I avoid being scammed while I shop online? Great question. Keep in mind that Christmas brings about the likes of scammers who are crafty in creating fake online stores with too good to be true discounts that never arrive on your doorstep. When searching for potential gifts on the Internet, remember to research the website thoroughly by searching the company name with ‘scam’ beside it to see what results may pop up. If you haven’t found any issues yet, remember to make sure the payment method is legitimate once you reach the last step of your shop. For example, if PayPal is your desired payment method, check that it’s using the real platform on the website. Unless you know what you are doing we suggest you, avoid websites that ask you to pay by cryptocurrency, bitcoin, bank transfers, or gift cards. It’s important to pay through the likes of PayPal and credit card transactions.
SHOPPING SCAMS
With Australians likely to spend over $11 billion on presents this year, it comes as no surprise that Christmas is the busiest shopping time of the year. Due to the pandemic, many people have turned to online shopping as it’s an easier and more convenient way to check off their lists. In fact, Roy Morgan Market Research Company states that 48% of presents are predicted to be bought online this year, meaning that plenty of Australians will be trusting their card details with numerous online websites.
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