The Times Australia
The Times News

.

Scam Season: the top Scams to watch out for this December

  • Written by Jacqueline Jayne - KnowBe4 Security Awareness Advocate - APAC


The festive season is my favorite time of the year. It is a time to celebrate and reconnect with our family, friends and community and the one time in the year where the whole country feels like it is on holiday. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is also called the silly season, on account of the higher than usual number of social engagements, slow down of work activities and general holiday mood.

Unfortunately, it is also a time where fraudsters and cybercriminals are coming out in full force, trying to take advantage of the uptake in online shopping, deliveries, and more lackadaisical attitude. Here, I have listed a few points to keep safe this festive season:

  • Look out for scams that really increase at this time of year, particularly deals that sound too good to be true, discounts that are amazing or free gift cards – nothing in life comes free and if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

  • Be careful of fake delivery notices – many of us will order online this year and criminals know that, trying to catch us with emails or text messages pretending to be from the shipment company.

  • Australia Post has been made aware of fraudulent text messages that are circulating as an update to a parcel delivery and prompting customers to click on a link to “update your information”. These scam messages are sent using ‘AusPost’ sender ID and, due to the way smart phones group these communications, the scam text would appear together with the legitimate thread of Australia Post messages. Here is one example: Once clicked, the link will lead to fake Australia Post website which is designed to steal your personal and financial information.

  • Be careful regarding charity organisations – when we reflect at the end of the year about who to support, we have to make sure we transfer our donations to the intended recipients. Many charity organisations pop up now that could be bogus or fake. Make sure you know who is behind it and that you are paying a reputable organisation.

  • Always use reputable retail websites when purchasing online.

  • If you are visiting a site with auctions or resellers, take the time to review their profiles and ensure they have a history of selling.

  • If purchasing from a site for the first time, research the organisation and look for reviews on social media or online.

  • Make sure to use a credit card for online purchases and monitor the card regularly for fraudulent activity.

  • Verify confirmation emails and get tracking numbers for purchases.

  • If you or the kids get any new tech gadgets this year, secure them right away, such as changing default passwords.

  • Remember the basics: keep all systems, apps and plugins up to date, especially your antivirus software, make sure you use multi-factor authentication wherever possible and do not trust anything you have not 100% verified or expected.

By following these mainly common-sense practices, you should be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the festive season in full swing. Happy Holidays!

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...