Consumers are being reminded to take a moment to stop, check, and protect themselves from scams when transacting or interacting online.

Australians have already lost more than $147 million to scams in 2025, with NSW residents alone reporting more than $48 million in losses, and more than 25,000 scams to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s National Anti-Scam Centre – Scamwatch.

Phishing scams where people are tricked into clicking links or entering details on fake websites which impersonate trusted organisations like banks, governments, or other services, are still the most common scams in NSW with nearly 9000 reports, followed by identity theft, online shopping scams, and false billing.

Those aged 65 and over continue to be disproportionately affected, with older Aussies lodging more than 6100 reports in the last year alone.

In the past year, more than 40 per cent of scam reports received by NSW Fair Trading were related to phishing attempts involving impersonation scams on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and WhatsApp.

Around 27 per cent involved tele fraud, false billing, or itinerant trader scams, while others concerned fake fundraising, trade promotions, and community gaming – reflecting the diverse ways scammers target consumers.

But it is not just online and digital scams which can cause harm, consumers are also being warned to be vigilant when shopping online.

Often based overseas, fake, or temporary online shops can seemingly pop-up overnight and employ ‘bait’ advertising like urgent calls to action which aim to rush shoppers into securing a purchase before authenticity is verified.

While Australian Consumer Law applies to online purchases made in Australia, purchases from overseas-based scammers are difficult to resolve.

Shoppers are urged to stay vigilant, research the seller, use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal for buyer protection, and always beware of deals which may look too good to be true. People who have been scammed from bogus shops should keep receipts and screenshots of correspondence to assist with lodging a complaint with NSW Fair Trading.

To help people shop safely online, ID Support NSW also offers a free online shopping module which explains how to spot fake websites, avoid scams, and know what to do if something goes wrong: https://www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw/learn/learning-modules/online-shopping

Clear advice on spotting scam messages, managing privacy settings, securing devices, and monitoring financial information, including how to request a temporary credit ban if needed, is available at www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw/be-prepared

NSW Fair Trading encourages consumers dissatisfied with a business’ services to lodge a complaint online here: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/online-tools/make-a-complaint or on 13 32 20.