Planning to take advantage of the end of financial year sales this month?
You're likely a perfect target for scammers.
Here's how the scams work and what to do if you're sent one.
How does a parcel delivery scam work?
Scammers will send out messages to as many people as they can in the hope of possibly netting someone who's waiting on a parcel to arrive.
It'll either be a text message or an email claiming to be AusPost or another delivery company telling them a parcel delivery has failed.
Current versions of the scam claim this is because of "incorrect address information" or unpaid delivery fees.
Victims are encouraged to click on a link to resolve the issue and are taken to fake Australia Post websites designed to steal personal and financial details.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority says this kind of scam is most commonly seen around major retail events like sale periods.
Nearly three-quarters of participants in an Australia Post survey reported receiving a delivery scam message at some point.
Worryingly, the survey found 54 per cent of respondents had initially believed a delivery scam was legitimate and pursued it.
When are the end of financial year sales?
It depends on each retailer but many have already started.
The annual sales tend to start up a few weeks before the start of the new financial year on July 1.
How can I spot a parcel delivery scam?
The Australian Cyber Security Centre says there are a few giveaways.
Suspicious links
Attaching links to texts and emails is the main tool scammers use in phishing scams.
If you receive an SMS or email pushing you to click on a link, it should be treated with caution.
Incorrect website address
While the website it leads to may look legitimate, the link often won't look right when compared to the company's official website.
Differences can include:
- Spelling errors
- Unusual words
- Random letters or numbers
- Different domain names like .net instead of .com
A sense of urgency
If you're expecting a parcel, chances are you don't want to wait any longer for it to arrive.
Scammers prey on this impatience or stress and their messages often threaten to "suspend" deliveries if you don't take action.
How can I protect myself?
Be wary, even if the message appears to have come from a legitimate sender.
ACMA warns some SMS scams may slip into your legitimate message streams.
"A scam claiming to be from Australia Post may appear among previous valid messages from the postal service about parcel delivery."
Australia Post says it will never call, text or email you for:
- Personal or financial information, including passwords, credit card details or account information
- Payment requests
If you're still not sure whether a message you received was a scam, it's recommended you:
- Do not click on any links, open any attachments or call any phone numbers in the message
- Get in touch with the sender or delivery service using contact details you find yourself
- Check tracking updates via official tracking apps like the AusPost app
Australia Post chief executive Paul Graham said it's getting harder for recipients to identify scams.
"With many people being bombarded with fake texts, emails and calls, the best way for customers to stay safe from scams is by using the free AusPost app, which tracks deliveries securely," he said.
If you've received a suspicious email, invoice or text message claiming to be from Australia Post, you can send it to scams@auspost.com.au for investigation.
What should I do if I've been scammed?
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report it to Scamwatch and ReportCyber.
You should also report the scam to AusPost by forwarding the message to scams@auspost.com.au.
Contact IDCare if you've provided scammers with personal information like your driver's licence or passport.
Scamwatch also recommends you look out for other scams, which may happen if you've lost some personal information.
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