Shoppers are being scammed online at higher rates as hundreds of millions of dollars are lost to dodgy deals across the nation.

In the first nine months of 2025, Australians reported losing nearly $260 million in more than 150,000 separate scams, the consumer watchdog said on Tuesday.

Shopping scams were the most common ruse, rising 19 per cent this year, sparking warnings for those looking for Christmas or Black Friday bargains online.

"Scammers love Black Friday sales too because they know shoppers are looking for bargains," Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.

"They rely on creating urgency and pressure that can come with a busy shopping period."

Nearly half of all scam losses come from an online contact including fake websites, advertisem

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