Australia Post Warns of Christmas Scam Surge Targeting Shoppers
As the Christmas season approaches and online shopping hits its peak, Australia Post has issued an urgent warning for everyone to stay alert. Scammers are taking advantage of the festive rush and people’s anticipation for deliveries to launch new and sophisticated frauds. These scams are becoming so realistic that even the most careful customers could easily fall for them.
One of the main scams currently spreading involves criminals posing as buyers on online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace. They reach out to sellers pretending to be interested in an item, then send fake links or QR codes that appear to come from Australia Post. These links lead to bogus courier service websites claiming to process payments and schedule parcel pickups. But instead of handling a sale, the sites are designed to steal personal and financial details from unsuspecting victims.
According to Australia Post’s research, more than 90 percent of Australians have received scam texts or calls, and nearly three-quarters of those messages impersonated legitimate parcel delivery services. It’s a worrying trend that seems to grow stronger each holiday season.
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Australia Post’s Chief Information Security Officer, Adam Cartwright, warned that scammers are deliberately exploiting the busy pre-Christmas period. “As sales ramp up and more Australians expect deliveries, scammers are playing on that sense of urgency and excitement,” he explained. “If you receive a message asking for payment or personal information, it’s not from us. The safest way to track your parcels is through the official AusPost app.”
Similarly, Australia Post CEO Paul Graham emphasized that the company never asks for passwords, credit card details, or bank information via text, email, or phone calls. “If those questions are being asked, it’s definitely not Australia Post,” he said. “People need to take a moment, think before they click, and verify the message before acting.”
Adding to the concern is the reappearance of highly advanced phishing operations such as the so-called “Darcula” network. This global scam rents out sophisticated toolkits that mimic trusted courier brands. It even uses encrypted messaging platforms like iMessage and RCS to bypass traditional spam filters, making these fake messages much harder to detect.
Authorities and cybersecurity experts are urging people to slow down and double-check messages, especially during this busy shopping period. As Australians prepare for Black Friday and Christmas spending—expected to hit billions of dollars—fraudsters are counting on quick clicks and rushed decisions.
Australia Post continues to remind customers that the only safe way to track packages or manage deliveries is through its official channels, either on the website or via the verified AusPost app available on Apple and Google Play. Staying cautious and skeptical this festive season could save countless Australians from falling victim to these increasingly clever scams.
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