ABA CEO Simon Birmingham interview on 9 Afternoon News about the risk of Black Friday Scams

E&OE

Host: Black Friday sales are becoming increasingly popular as many South Australians look to stretch their budgets in the lead up to Christmas, but we’re being warned about a number of scams and dodgy deals to steer clear of. Simon, Birmingham, CEO of the Australian Banking Association, joins us now, Simon, thanks to your time on the afternoon news, almost $40 million was lost to Black Friday scams in the past year. Can you talk us through what to look out for when it comes to fake websites and ads?

Simon Birmingham: So, it’s really understandable that Australians right now are going into Black Friday are eager to get a pre-Christmas bargain and to do that shopping while they can get those bargains. But the message really is to take care, because some of those websites you see may not be what they appear to be. The use of AI and other tools means it’s much easier for scammers to duplicate legitimate websites. Make them look like the real deal, but you’re not actually buying the right thing. So please, if you’re visiting websites during Black Friday sales, check the URL address, make sure you’re on the right site. Use proper search engines. Do all the things that can protect yourself.

Host: That is good advice. What about social media marketplace scams?

Simon Birmingham: Those sorts of marketplaces are high-risk. There are lots of fake listings. There are lots of requests made for advance payments before you’ve even got or seen the goods. So again, the message and the warning to consumers is to use sites that do verification checks, particularly on sellers, but also on buyers, so that you can all be confident, and do your best to try to actually see the goods before actually pay for the goods,

Host: Simon, we’ve seen a real increase in fake parcel delivery notifications, whether that’s text messages or emails. I guess that’s something that we need to be really vigilant about at this time of year?

Simon Birmingham: It is. We all get those emails and text messages giving quite useful delivery notifications. But, it’s also really critical to be on the lookout for the delivery notifications that aren’t real, and a big clue to that is if they’re asking you for more information, because once you’ve paid for a product, you shouldn’t have to pay any more. And once you’ve given your details, particularly your payment details, your credit card or bank account details, you shouldn’t have to provide those details again. So, if you’re getting notifications asking for that information, go back to the buyer, go back to the source and check whether they’re the ones asking for it, or whether you’re potentially being scammed.

Host: So what is the overall advice to buyers heading into Black Friday?

Simon Birmingham: Well, absolutely, go out and get a bargain, but also apply the basic precautions, stop, check, protect. Take that little bit of extra time to stop and to check that you are on the right website providing information only to those who should have it and protect yourself in the process. As banks, we don’t wish to see our customers scammed. If you do get into trouble, though, please make sure you report it, because, while it may not guarantee that you get all of your money back, it absolutely helps to build more protections across the system, enabling banks to stop other people transferring money in the same ways in the future.

Host: Very important advice. Simon Birmingham, CEO of the Australian Banking Association, thanks for your time.

Simon Birmingham: Thanks so much.

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