Shoppers warned to be alert for scams ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales

Shoppers have been warned to pause before they buy online during this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to avoid being scammed.

Almost 40 per cent of Australians have been exposed to buying or selling scams online during the festive season sales, particularly for technology items and clothes.

Westpac cash and transactional banking managing director Mandy Rutherford said it could be hard to determine the difference between a good discount and a too good to be true discount.

Ms Rutherford warned bargain hunters to beware of scammers looking to capitalise on the Black Friday frenzy.

“Plan your purchases, and pause before you buy, to ensure that they are within your budget and you are buying from a reputable retailer,“ she said.

The bank advised shoppers to think before they bought online to ensure they were dealing with a reputable retailer, especially through social media and online marketplaces.

It also suggested to check for red flags such as incorrect spelling, the seller’s reputation and reviews, and search for a photo of the item you are buying on Google and to use secure payment services.

Westpac found Australians were expected to spend more than $600 per person during the sales, with men spending on average about $220 more than women.

Clothes (48 per cent) are the most popular choice during the sales, followed by technology (28 per cent) and homewares (21 per cent).

More than half of the Australian population planned to do their Christmas shopping during the sales and close to a quarter were saving money to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said their data reflected similar trends to 2023, with spending spiking during sales, then dropping off in non-sales periods, as people tightened their belts.

“People want to economise in the lead-up to Christmas gift-giving, planning their purchases to save on spending,” he said.

“But despite best-laid plans, impulse purchases still happen at the checkout, and retailers will be working hard to encourage people to spend.

“We know some retailers are doing it tough, with the rising costs of doing business, so we may not see those huge discounts we have seen in previous years.”

This year, Black Friday falls on November 29, with Cyber Monday occurring on December 2.