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- What is an online shopping scam?
- How can you spot an online sales scam?
- How to stay safe from online sales scams
- Where to report fraud and scams
video
Scoring a bargain from your couch or selling items online can be convenient and rewarding, but it’s not just savvy shoppers using online marketplaces.
Scammers are also active in this space, using increasingly believable tactics to target Australians and take advantage of trusted platforms.
As more of our everyday transactions move online, it’s important to stay aware of how these scams work and how they present in buying and selling scenarios.
What is an online shopping scam?
An online shopping scam is any scam that takes place in the online sales space. They’ll usually present in one of three ways:
Fake online stores
Scammers create websites that mimic legitimate retailers, offering deals that seem too good to be true. Once you make a purchase, the product never arrives and the seller disappears.
An online marketplace seller
Scammers pose as sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or eBay, offering high-demand items such as electronics, cars, or event tickets. They may even provide fake receipts to appear legitimate. Once payment is made, you may not hear from the seller ever again.
An online marketplace buyer
Scammers also pose as buyers. They claim to have paid you and may send fake emails from PayID or PayPal, asking you to upgrade your account or refund an overpayment.
How can you spot an online shopping scam?
Watch for these common red flags:
- The deal seems too good to be true.
- The account name doesn’t match the seller’s details.
- You receive an invoice for something you never ordered.
- A buyer insists you upgrade to a “business account” to receive payment.
- A seller refuses to provide more images or details about an item.
- A buyer offers to pay immediately - without seeing the item
- The seller creates urgency or pressure to act fast.
- The retail website lacks credentials - such as an ABN, privacy policy, or contact information.
How to stay safe from online sales scams
STOP
Pause before acting if something doesn’t feel right, especially:
- If a deal or request seems too good to be true
- If someone asks for a refund due to overpayment
- If a website seems dodgy
CHECK
Take a closer look before you proceed:
- Confirm the money is in your account before sending goods to the buyer - don’t rely on screenshots or receipts.
- Use trusted websites only. Avoid unknown links and check the site carefully. Don’t simply click the first page that appears from a web search.
- Do your due diligence on the seller or business:
- Look for an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Research unfamiliar brands
- Look for an Australian Business Number (ABN)
PROTECT
Take steps to keep your money and information safe:
- Be cautious of very low prices
- Be wary of newly created websites
- Don’t refund anyone who says they’ve overpaid unless you can see the money in your account. Screenshots or receipts can be fake.
- Use PayID and Confirmation of Payee to check who you’re paying before sending money.
Note: PayIDs are managed by your bank, and PayID does not contact customers directly. If you have concerns, please contact your bank.
Where to report fraud and scams
- If you suspect fraud on your account or have shared financial information or transferred money as a result a scam, please contact your bank. If you bank with ANZ, please contact us straightaway. Our Customer Protection Team is available 24/7 to help you.
- You can also report scams to the Australian Government’s Scamwatch and the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s ReportCyber.
- For additional support with identity or cyber security concerns, you can reach out to IDCare, a not-for-profit organisation offering expert support and frontline insights into scams, identity theft and cybercrime.
