At Remitly we know the festive season in Australia is a time of excitement, with the buzz of Christmas shopping, the lure of Boxing Day sales, the promise of summer get-aways, and the joy of sharing and giving. But while you’re enjoying the festivities, scammers are also working hard. Scammers know you’re busy, distracted, and hopeful this time of year. They’ll exploit your generosity and your desire for a good deal.
The Australian scam landscape
According to the Australian National Anti-Scam Centre, the first nine months of 2025 saw over 159,000 scam reports, with losses of about $259.5 million AUD, a 16% increase in losses compared with the same period the year before. The centre also reported 65% of Australians have been exposed to a scam, and during the festive season, the risks and potential losses rise even higher. That’s why we’re here to help you spot common scams targeting Australians, provide some practical strategies to protect yourself, and tell you what to do if you’re targeted.
Top Christmas season scams targeting Australians
Scammers use a variety of tactics, but these are some of the most common ones to look out for.
Fake shopping deals
One of the most common scams during any sale season, but especially around Christmas and New Year’s, is the fake retailer. Scammers set up convincing websites or social media posts offering too-good-to-be-true deals on electronics, designer brands, or “limited time” Christmas specials. They use images, logos, and even reviews that look legit.
Things to be aware of include retailers that only appear on social media, a notification of a sudden massive discount, or a website that lacks a secure checkout, with no HTTPS or padlock icon in the browser address bar.
To give you an example, you click a social media ad for a “Boxing Day Only” laptop deal, communicate via direct message, and pay with crypto but never receive the item. Frustrating and expensive, especially in the festive season.
Dodgy travel package scams
Holiday travel opens many doors for fraud including fake holiday rentals, bogus travel deals, and fake airline customer service representatives.
Things to look out for include fake holiday listings where you’re asked to deposit a large amount of money for a property that doesn’t exist, or was already booked. Then there are apparently heavily discounted flights or travel packages from websites that mimic legitimate airlines or a DM from an apparent customer service representative asking for payment details to process a refund.
Australia Post delivery scams
With more parcels flying around in the run-up to Christmas, scammers impersonate Australian postal courier services to exploit people expecting deliveries. Be vigilant when you receive SMS messages or emails about parcels, especially when you might be expecting lots of parcels from different places.
Double-check they’re for items you’ve actually ordered, and be wary of links asking you to “reschedule your delivery” or “pay a fee to avoid return” which might direct you to a website that looks similar to Australia Post, but whose domain is different.
Charity and donation frauds
Scammers know the festive spirit is about giving. They set up fake charity appeals, often piggybacking off real disasters such as bushfires or floods, or hijacking a real GoFundMe campaign. Watch out for charities with no registration on the ACNC database, urgent calls, or donation requests/links that redirect you away from the charity’s official website. Appeals made via social media messenger from someone you don’t know could easily be scams as well.
Christmas season job scams
Looking for extra cash during the festive season? When it’s busy, companies may post job adverts for Christmas casual work, promising “easy work from home” or “Christmas survey” jobs. Scammers exploit this by offering non-existent jobs and demanding upfront payments, or asking for personal details such as your bank account info for “registration” purposes.
A classic scam would be an advertisement stating you only need to pay $50 AUD to access training material, then you can earn $500 AUD per week. In reality, the work doesn’t exist. Be very sceptical of work-from-home roles promising high pay for minimal hours, but where you need to cover equipment costs or pay a setup fee.
Investment and crypto cons
As the year ends many people feel motivated to “start fresh,” investing their money or trying something new. Scammers exploit this with fake opportunities such as “special for the festive season” investment offers that promise rapid returns.
Watch out for claims like “Limited Christmas offer!” “Invest now” or “Double your money by New Year’s!” especially where there’s also pressure to act quickly. Online scammers want you to send them your money, and they promise unrealistic returns if you recruit others. Typically they have no registration or licence for the financial product or investment, or it simply doesn’t really exist.
Red flags: how to spot a Christmas season scam
While they’re getting ever-more sophisticated, there are still some common warning signs you can keep in mind to help you identify a scam.
- High-pressure tactics: “Limited time” offers, “Act now or lose out,” “Final seats available” for example.
- Unusual payment methods: Gift cards, cryptocurrency wire transfers, or money requests from overseas.
- Poor communication: Lots of grammar, spelling errors, and suspicious email addresses.
- No verifiable contact or licence: A business with no ABN (Australian Business Number) or contact information beyond an overseas phone number or social media account.
- Requests for personal info upfront: For example driver’s licence details or bank login info. Legitimate businesses don’t ask for this information.
- Too-good-to-be-true deals: If it looks like an amazing offer with no reason for the discount, pause and investigate.
- Redirected links and spoofed website: The URL is slightly off from what you expected or would assume for that business.
If you spot any of these, pause, verify, and don’t give in to the call for urgency.
Your festive season scam protection toolkit
Knowing what to look out for is one thing, but there are plenty of actions you can take to protect yourself too.
Safe shopping practices
- If you’re shopping online, consider sticking with well known retailers. Check for “HTTPS” in the URL, the padlock icon, and search for the website organically, don’t click on it from an unsolicited message.
- Check the business with ABN and take a few minutes to search the seller’s name along with words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam”.
- Be cautious with social media deals, especially if someone is asking you to pay by unusual methods.
- Keep records of the transaction, including the purchase confirmation, payment, confirmation emails, and shipping details.
Travel safety tips
- Book directly with the hotel or airline and search for the website organically, don’t click on it from an unsolicited message.
- If a rental or tour looks amazing, do a quick search to see if it’s listed elsewhere. Compare the photos, read reviews, and make sure the host or company is legit.
- Search online for the name of the travel company, hotel, or rental along with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint” to see if others have been scammed.
- Keep copies of your booking confirmations, the booking agent’s contact details, and your travel itinerary, in multiple formats—both offline and online.
Charity verification steps
- Use the ACNC charity register to check any charity’s registration status.
- Donate directly via the charity’s official website, not via forwarded links or social media posts.
- Be cautious of door-to-door solicitors who can’t provide proper ID or accreditation.
- If you receive a charity appeal via social media, verify the story with reliable news outlets or the charity’s website.
Digital security measures
- Never click suspicious links in SMS, email or social messages even if it looks like it comes from a courier or retailer. Cross-check the tracking number via their official site.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your financial accounts and apps.
- Use the “Stop. Check. Protect” rule. If you feel rushed or unsure, stop the transaction, check it carefully, and protect your credentials by reporting quickly.
What to do if you’ve been targeted
If the worst happens and you fall victim to a scam, contact your bank or financial institution and local police as soon as possible. Explain the situation and ask the bank or financial institution to block or reverse transactions if it’s not too late.
Report what’s happened to Scamwatch. If your personal information is compromised contact IDCare for identity theft support.
Document everything including email threads, links, screenshots, and receipts. These may help law enforcement or your bank at a later time.
And if you feel OK doing so, consider sharing your experience with family and friends without giving personal details. Your story may help them stay alert and not become victims themselves.
Stay safe and enjoy your festive season
The festive season is about connection, joy and giving. Knowing about the existence of scams doesn’t mean you have to be cynical, or that you’ll definitely be targeted. By staying aware and acting thoughtfully, you’ll dramatically reduce your risk.
Always remember that legitimate businesses understand and respect your concerns about security. If someone pressures you, asks for unusual payment methods, or seems unwilling to give verifiable information, take a step back. Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, it probably is!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I check if an online shop is legitimate in Australia?
Look for an ABN, an Australian contact address, HTTPS secure checkout, and independent reviews. Be cautious of sellers using only social media pages or asking for odd payment methods.
Are charity appeals on social media safe to donate to?
Some are real, but many scams start on social platforms. Always verify a charity through the ACNC register or by visiting its official website directly before donating.
Who can I report a scam to in Australia?
You can report scams to Scamwatch, your bank, your local police, and IDCare if your personal information may be compromised.