UPDATE: Australians are facing a surge in sophisticated phishing scams linked to Australia Post, particularly targeting users of Facebook Marketplace. With the Christmas shopping season rapidly approaching, authorities are urging vigilance against these scams, which exploit the urgency of holiday shopping.
Officials from Australia Post have identified a cunning scheme where fraudsters masquerade as potential buyers. They claim they will make a purchase once postage is arranged, then send a deceptive link or QR code via Facebook Messenger. Clicking the link leads unsuspecting sellers to a counterfeit Australia Post courier service that demands payment for a collection. This fraudulent site is designed solely to steal financial and personal information.
Research indicates that over 90 percent of Australians have encountered scam communications pretending to be from the postal service. Alarmingly, nearly 75 percent reported interactions with scammers impersonating Australia Post shipping or delivery services.
Adam Cartwright, Australia Post’s chief information security officer, emphasized the need for caution. “As the pre-Christmas sales ramp up and more Aussies are expecting deliveries, scammers are exploiting that anticipation and urgency to trick people into clicking fake links or handing over personal information,” he stated in an interview with 9News. He reassured the public, “If you receive a message asking for personal or payment details, you can be confident it’s not from us.”
To protect themselves, Australians are advised to track parcels exclusively through the official AusPost app and to remember that Australia Post never requests personal or financial information via text messages, emails, or phone calls. Customers should immediately report any suspicious attempts to obtain passwords, credit card information, or bank details.
Additionally, Australia Post has raised alarms about the return of the so-called “Dracula scam.” This fraudulent scheme involves messages claiming that a delivery has failed due to an invalid postcode, directing victims to a website that mimics the official postal service page and asks for personal information. This particular scam utilizes end-to-end encrypted messaging to evade traditional detection methods.
As the holiday season draws near, the urgency to remain vigilant against these scams cannot be understated. Australians are encouraged to stay informed and share this critical warning to help protect themselves and their communities from these deceptive practices.
