SHOPPERS are being warned against fake parcel delivery scams in the lead up to Christmas.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning online shoppers to watch out for scam emails about "undeliverable packages."
The commission's deputy chair Delia Rickard said this type of scam is particularly effective during the holiday season as many shoppers buy Christmas presents online.
"There is nothing festive about this scam - scammers will use it to steal your personal information and lighten your wallet," Ms Rickard said.
"Scammers typically send emails pretending to be from Australia Post or FedEx, to try and trick you into believing you have an undeliverable package.
"In some cases, these emails may include your name and address and include legitimate-looking information, complete with fake logos."
Victims may be threatened with a holding fee for the item and are asked to open an attachment, click on a link or download a file to retrieve the undeliverable parcel.
Following these instructions will likely download a ransomware virus that locks the computer.
Scammers then demand a payment to unlock the computer, usually using the online currency bitcoins or wire transfer.
"Even if you pay the fee, there is no guarantee that will be able to access your computer again," Ms Rickard said.
"If you receive an email about an undeliverable package, don't open any attachments or download files - delete it straight away."
Protect yourself
- Australia Post will put a notice in your letter box if a package was undeliverable. Delete any email claiming to be from Australia Post about an undelivered package.
- Do not click on links or download files in emails you receive out of the blue - especially if they are executable (.exe) files or zip (.zip) files. These files are likely to contain malware or ransomware viruses.
- If you are suspicious about a 'missed' parcel delivery email, call the company directly to verify that the correspondence is genuine. Independently source the contact details through an internet search or phone book - do not rely on numbers provided in the suspicious email.
- Regularly back up your computer's data on a separate hard drive. If your computer is infected by malware or ransomware you can restore the factory settings and easily re-install all of your software and data.
- Buy yourself (or your business) a standalone hard drive for Christmas. These have become relatively inexpensive and can save you a lot if your computer is infected by malware or ransomware.
