Online marketplace scams are on the rise, and Australia Post (AusPost)  is saying it’s a case of seller beware as sophisticated scammers impersonate their brand.

According to AusPost, scam buyers on Facebook Marketplace are posing as genuine users and sending links or QR codes that lead to fake Australia Post courier sites.

The fake buyers then claim they will organise payment and courier collection of the item via the service. It’s all a ploy so that scammers can capture personal and financial information such as bank account details from the seller.

Online marketplaces targeted

Australia Post Chief Information Officer, Adam Cartwright, said scammers are using the popularity of online marketplaces to target Australians.

“Our latest Annual eCommerce Report shows Australians spent the most on online marketplaces in the past year ($18.9 billion), and scammers are capitalising on that growth with increasingly sophisticated tactics.

“We are seeing scammers targeting buyers and sellers through fake listings, counterfeit items, and payment tricks designed to steal personal and financial information. On Facebook Marketplace, scammers falsely claim that Australia Post is handling payment from the buyer, transferring funds to the seller, and managing pickup and delivery.

Screenshot shared by a scammer with a QR code. Image supplied by AusPost

AusPost never handles payments

Cartwright says Australia Post will never handle buyer payments and does not have any courier service associated with Facebook Marketplace. Yet 1000s of Aussies are still falling prey.

“More than 2,500 Australians have already reported being targeted by Facebook Marketplace scams to Australia Post this year,” Cartwright says.

“Staying vigilant and following safe practices can help protect you. If something doesn’t look right, we encourage people to pause and double-check before sharing any details,” says Cartwright.

A scammer contacts the seller with a scam link. Image supplied by AusPost

How to stay safe

With so many scammers about, Cartwright says it’s vital to take precautions. He suggests downloading the official AusPost app and enabling push notifications for parcel tracking.

He reminds consumers that Australia Post will never ask for personal details via phone, text or email.

For more tips on how to navigate parcel and delivery scams visit the Australia Post website

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