Shoppers urged to be aware of Black Friday sale scams

With Black Friday sales ramping up and retailers rolling out discounts ahead of the official day, Australians are being warned to stay vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams. An RMIT expert explains.

Professor Asha Rao, School of Science:

"Scams are getting harder to detect, and with the Black Friday sales upon us, we need to take stock of how we shop and what more we can do to protect ourselves.

"Pause before you click. Scammers want you to react rather than think, which is why this key message may be all you need to protect yourself.

"However, given the advent of AI, it may not be that easy. From the ACCC 2025 Targeting Scams report, losses have started rising again after a dip in 2023 and 2024.

"Regular checks of your bank transactions, and especially checking when your bank messages you about a transaction is advisable.

"Be especially careful when you find attractive offers on social media and taking the time to independently search for the seller using your browser, could save you a lot of heartache after the fact.

"If the worst does happen, then reach out to your bank, but also to IDCARE, the national identity and cyber support service, to report your loss."

Professor Asha Rao is a cyber security expert and a trans-disciplinary researcher working across mathematics, cyber security and gender equity in STEM.

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