Safe Online Shopping for Seniors in Australia
Shopping online is convenient, especially when getting to the shops is hard. You can buy almost anything from home and have it delivered. It is also safe, as long as you stick to trusted shops and follow a few simple habits, particularly around the busy Christmas season when scams increase.
This guide explains how to shop online safely in Australia, in plain English. For more ways to protect yourself online, see our complete guide to staying safe online.
Quick answer
Shop with trusted Australian retailers and well-known marketplaces like eBay and Amazon Australia. Pay by credit card or PayPal, which offer the most protection. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, and never shop using a link from an email or text. If a price or a site feels off, it probably is.
Stick to trusted shops
The safest path is to buy from shops you know, such as well-known Australian retailers like JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, Harvey Norman, Coles and Woolworths, and established marketplaces like eBay and Amazon Australia. Reach them by typing the address yourself or using their official app, not by following a link in a message. If you find a shop you have never heard of, search for reviews before buying. Be extra careful with very cheap “shops” advertised on social media, as many are based overseas and disappear once they have your money.
Pay in a way that protects you
How you pay matters. A credit card or a service like PayPal offers good protection, as you can often dispute a payment if something goes wrong. Avoid paying by direct bank transfer to a seller you do not know, as that money is hard to recover. Never send payment by gift card, which is always a sign of a scam.
Spot a fake shop or deal
Scam shops appear especially around Christmas. Warning signs include prices far lower than anywhere else, a brand-new website with no reviews, poor spelling, and pressure to buy quickly. If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. Our guides on email scams can help you spot the messages that lead to these sites.
Your rights when you shop online in Australia
When you buy from an Australian business, the Australian Consumer Law is on your side, online just as much as in a shop. Goods must match their description, be of acceptable quality, and do what the seller said they would. If something arrives faulty, broken or not as described, you are entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. For a major problem, the choice of remedy is yours, not the seller’s, and these rights sit on top of any warranty, so they can outlast it.
A credit card chargeback and PayPal Buyer Protection give you extra ways to claw back money if a seller will not put things right. The catch is that these protections are far harder to use against an overseas seller, which is one more reason to favour Australian shops and well-known marketplaces. If a seller will not help, you can contact your state or territory consumer affairs or fair trading office, or the ACCC at accc.gov.au, and report a scam shop to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au.
Safe online shopping checklist
- Buy from shops you know, or check reviews of ones you do not.
- Reach the shop by typing the address or using its app, not a link.
- Pay by credit card or PayPal, never by gift card.
- Be suspicious of prices that seem too low.
- Keep your order confirmation email until the item arrives.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: Safe online shopping
Is it safe to use my credit card online?
Yes, with trusted shops it is, and a credit card actually offers good protection if something goes wrong. Look for a padlock symbol in the web address bar when paying.
Is a marketplace like eBay or Amazon safe?
eBay and Amazon Australia are well-known and widely used. Pay through the site’s own checkout, read seller reviews, and be cautious if a seller asks you to pay outside the site or by direct bank transfer.
What is the safest way to pay?
A credit card or PayPal, as both let you dispute a payment. Avoid direct bank transfers to unknown sellers, and never pay by gift card.
How do I know a website is genuine?
Type the address yourself, look for a padlock when paying, check for reviews, and be wary of very low prices. When unsure, stick to shops you already know.
What should I do if I think I have been scammed?
Contact your bank or card provider straight away, as they may be able to stop or reverse the payment. Then report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If your identity details were exposed, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160, and you can report online fraud through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au.
