As Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas sales approach, police are warning Ipswich residents to stay vigilant online and avoid falling victim to scammers this festive season.
Senior Constable Chantelle Dowell from the Ipswich District Crime Prevention Unit told West Bremer Radio’s Crime Watch that criminals are increasingly targeting shoppers through fake websites, scam emails and social media ads designed to steal personal and financial information.
“Scammers use sales events to trick people into revealing details or paying for products that don’t exist,” she said. “They’ll mimic legitimate retailers using similar logos, emails and even website addresses.”
Constable Dowell shared several tips to help residents shop safely online this Christmas:
- Only buy from trusted websites — look for “https” in the URL for secure encryption.
- Double-check website addresses for misspellings or unusual characters.
- Use credit cards instead of debit cards for better fraud protection.
- Avoid direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency payments.
- Don’t shop over public Wi-Fi networks.
- Create strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters.
- Keep track of transactions and check for suspicious activity in bank statements.
She also reminded shoppers that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
“Fraudsters rely on urgency and emotion — like limited-time offers or fake delivery problems — to make people act without thinking,” Constable Dowell said.
Residents who suspect a scam or need to report suspicious activity can visit police.qld.gov.au/reporting or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
And for those doing their own Christmas shopping, Constable Dowell added with a laugh:
“Even when you’re buying your own presents, make sure you’re doing it safely!”
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