Australia Post Reports Increase in Delivery Scams
A recent poll revealed that 95 percent of individuals are being targeted by up to 16 scams every week, with five percent reporting losses exceeding $20,000 due to scammers.
Research conducted by Australia Post indicates a surge in package and delivery scams surpassing other fraudulent activities, as Australians are increasingly falling victim to providing sensitive information to scammers.
According to survey results, 73 percent of respondents report receiving fraudulent emails and texts disguised as communications from Australia Post and other courier services.
Furthermore, over 25 percent of those surveyed admitted to falling victim to scams resulting in identity theft or financial harm, with five percent losing over $20,000.
The poll also highlighted that 95 percent of individuals are confronted with one to 16 scam attempts per week.
Paul Graham, Australia Post’s Group Chief Executive and Managing Director, stated that scam tactics are evolving to become more sophisticated, frequent, and challenging to identify.
“Australians are collectively losing substantial sums to scams annually, with our latest research indicating that the majority of individuals have already been targeted,” he noted.
Exploiting the E-commerce Boom: Phishing Texts and Emails
Phishing scams, where scammers attempt to extract sensitive information by posing as reputable entities, are growing in complexity.
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These scams are often disseminated through emails or text messages with the intent of obtaining personal and financial details.
Scammers commonly send emails impersonating reputable organizations alleging suspicious account activity, soliciting verification through malicious links.
Scammers are now more technologically adept, making their schemes more intricate and challenging to identify—54 percent of survey respondents admitted almost falling victim to disclosing crucial information before recognizing the scam.
The pandemic has fundamentally altered shopping behaviors, driven by the surge in e-commerce and barriers to accessing physical retail spaces.
Consequently, the influx of consumer shipments to workplaces and residences has surged. Australia Post reported nearly 100 million packages delivered in the first six months of 2024.
Beyond package scams, 49 percent of survey participants received overdue toll notifications, 39 percent were informed of fake holiday winnings, 22 percent received bogus overdue tax claims, and eight percent were alerted about a child losing their phone.
Protecting Yourself from Scams
A recent report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) disclosed 601,000 scam reports, resulting in Australians losing $2.74 billion in 2023.
Key tips to evade scammers include verifying message sources and refraining from clicking on suspicious links.
Australia Post recommends monitoring all deliveries via their app for added security.
“Given the inundation of fake texts, emails, and calls, utilizing the free AusPost app to track deliveries securely is the most effective way for customers to safeguard against scams,” emphasized Paul Graham.
Australia Post also underscores that they will never request personal or financial details, such as passwords, credit card information, or account data, via calls, texts, or emails.
If individuals suspect compromise or encounter suspicious communications, they are advised to promptly contact their bank.
