The postal service reports that fraudsters are exploiting the festive rush by targeting Facebook Marketplace users and other online shoppers.
Scammers typically pose as interested buyers, sending links or QR codes through Messenger to fake 'Australia Post courier service' websites.
These fraudulent sites claim payment will be processed online with courier collection following payment, but are actually designed to steal personal and financial information.
Research from Australia Post reveals more than 90 per cent of Australians have received scam texts or calls, with nearly three quarters reporting that scams most commonly impersonate shipping and parcel delivery services.
The company is also witnessing a resurgence of sophisticated phishing operations, including the global 'Darcula' operation that rents scam toolkits to criminals.
Australia Post chief information security officer Adam Cartwright advised customers to track parcels through the official AusPost app.
“As the pre-Christmas sales ramp up, and more Aussies are expecting deliveries, scammers are exploiting that anticipation and urgency to trick people into clicking fake links or handing over personal information,” he said.
For the most secure and reliable way to receive genuine delivery updates, download the official AusPost app and enable push notifications for parcel tracking.
“If you receive a message asking for personal or payment details, you can be confident it's not from us,” Mr Cartwright said.
“In fact, the safest way to track your item is through the official AusPost app.”
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