With Christmas just around the corner the Office of Fair Trading is warning online shoppers to not get caught out when shopping online for Christmas gifts.

“Queenslanders to be aware of online scammers and know their consumer rights when shopping online. Since COVID-19, more and more people are doing their shopping online – but there are risks that consumers need to be aware of,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said.

“We have heard stories of online shoppers who have fallen victim to dodgy traders and with less than a month to go to finish the Christmas shopping, we don’t want to see anyone miss out this festive season,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon said.

Queenslanders are encouraged to check the business reviews and make sure their website is secure before making any payment or providing any personal information.

Cybersecurity and secure websites feature a closed padlock in the address bar or the address starts with ‘https://’ not ‘http://’.

And consumers should always check that they have legitimate contact details before making a payment or providing any personal information.

“If the product is faulty, or it doesn’t match the description you were given, you are entitled to a refund, replacement or repair. Whether you have shopped online, in store or from an overseas website, your consumer rights still apply,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon said.

“If anything goes wrong with your online purchase, the retailer that sold it to you must provide a remedy. They cannot just direct you to the manufacturer, importer, or delivery company,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon said.

“This year is expected to be even busier for our postal services so make sure you check the delivery timeframes,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon said.

“It’s also worth remembering that if you paid via an online payment service or by credit or debit card, you may be able to reverse the transaction if there are issues with receiving the product,” she said.

The Office of Fair Trading’s top tips for online shopping include the following always check you are dealing with a reputable seller,you have the same rights as you would if you bought from a walk-in store.

Check with traders what their cut-off dates are to guarantee pre-Christmas delivery.

If products are faulty or do not match their description, the trader must fix the issue. They cannot refer you to the manufacturer or importer.

Aiza Mabayag

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Aiza is a journalist and content writer. She is the content producer of Public Spectrum.

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