The warning comes following one from NSW Police who urged people to be vigilant with festive scams now in full swing.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) deputy chair Delia Rickard said scammers take advantage of special days or major events like Christmas to fleece people of their money or personal information.

Scammers will set up fake online stores or post goods for sale in buy‑swap-sell groups or online classified sites to trick people into buying items that don’t exist. This scam has cost Australians nearly $3 million in 2018, with more than 8,700 reports.

Scammers trick people into believing they’ve won a holiday or scored a really good deal on a travel package, like a cruise. Unfortunately the prize or the cheap accommodation are phony. In 2018, nearly $135,000 has been lost to this scam.

Scammers may ask you to print off a label, do a survey, claim a prize, or view the status of your delivery by clicking on a link or downloading an attachment. Some scammers may even call or text with claims about an unsuccessful delivery. These scams are aimed at getting people to download malware onto their computer, or give up their personal information. People have lost about $31,000 to these scams in 2018.

Ms Rickard said Scamwatch had seen a massive influx of reports and money lost to tax scams.

“In November we received 7500 reports of these scams and $400,000 was reported lost,” she said.

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“This isn’t a usual holiday season scam, however a lot of people are getting calls from scammers pretending to be from the tax office or the police and threatening them with arrest over unpaid tax debts.

“This is a scam. If you ever get a call or email containing threats like this, hang up the phone or delete the email.”

A healthy dose of scepticism and research is vital, Ms Rickard said.

“We love snagging a great deal online for a loved one’s Christmas present and the idea of a bargain holiday is perfect for many after a long year. But don’t fall for it,” she said.

“Be sceptical about an online store you haven’t used before. Do some research to see if they’re legitimate and don’t be fooled by big discounts.

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“With travel deals, call the accommodation provider directly, for example the cruise line or hotel, to check if the deal is legitimate.”

“If you see a seemingly great deal on an accommodation rental website like Airbnb, make sure you only communicate and pay through the official site to avoid getting stung by a fake listing.”

Ms Rickard said while many people in the community are expecting a parcel at this time of year, she still urged them to be vigilant.

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“Be careful about online links and never download attachments,” she said.

“If you’re wondering if a delivery notice is legitimate, check the tracking number at the Australia Post or other delivery company website, or call them directly using a number you find from an online search or the phone book.”

Ms Rickard also urged people to spread news about the warnings and scams to their friends, particularly with loved ones who may be vulnerable.

Visit www.scamwatch.gov.au for further information about holiday season scams.

People can also follow Smamwatch or Twitter at @scamwatch_gov or subscribe to Scamwatch radar alerts to get up-to-date warnings.