Shop 'til you drop - safely.

Black Friday bargain hunting can cost you a bomb

Nov 25, 2024

With the annual Black Friday and Cyber Monday frenzy sales just around the corner, now is a good time to brush up on your cyber security knowledge.    

These pre-Christmas shopping events can be the perfect time to catch a great bargain, but it’s also when cybercriminals are more active. Watch out for online shopping scams that put your money and personal information at risk.  

Remember to follow these tips:

• Don’t use your work device or email address for online shopping.
• Never use public Wi-Fi.
• Check you are buying from a real store and not a fake website. You can verify the company using ABN Lookup if it’s an Australian business. If unsure, stick to a reputable business that you know and have purchased from before.
• Be on the lookout for suspicious emails or text messages and be careful when clicking on links. If a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is. Learn more about how to spot a phishing scam (on VPN).  
• Be wary of text messages or emails about parcel deliveries. Download the Australia Post app to ensure you are receiving their legitimate delivery notifications.  
• Use secure payment options that come with purchase protection such as PayPal.
• Make sure you have up-to-date security software installed on your devices.
• Contact your bank immediately if you notice unusual account activity. Report to Scamwatch or ReportCyber if you think your money has been stolen.  

View more online shopping safety tips from the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

To increase your cyber security awareness, make sure you’ve done your mandatory 15-minute Cyber Security Fundamentals eLearning module. This needs to be completed by all staff every year. You may now be overdue. Log into My Health Learning to check.