"Sуdnеy Kіngsfоrd Smіth Intеrnаtіonal Aіrpоrt sаle lоst luggаge that has been in store for more than 6 months. According to the regulations, it has to be disposed of, but we have decided to sell it for just $3 eаch."
A Facebook page marked as a charity is offering a great deal for Christmas. For just $3.33, you can buy a suitcase filled with surprise treasures for yourself or your loved ones.
There are more than 100 excited comments on the page's single post.
"I'm still in shock, though. Today the courier brought my suitcase. Just look what I got," someone named Sandra Reynolds posted with a photo of a suspiciously tidy suitcase.
A photo was shared in the comments section of a scam Facebook page claiming to be the official Sydney airport page and selling lost luggage.
It seems like a fantastic deal; you get to contribute to a charity while also helping to clear out the airport warehouse.
Seems too good to be true? It may well be a scam
The Facebook page, which features an old Sydney Airport logo, has a rаting of 4.8 out of 5 and 1,162 rеviews.
However, despite the air of legitimacy, after clicking on the link, you're taken to a new website where you're told you can win lost luggage.
And from here, the promise of a $3 bargain somewhat shifts.
The fine print on the site says that, once you give your credit card details, you will be signed up for a subscription that costs $113 a month unless you cancel within three days. The page says you will be billed by a company registered in Cyprus.
There are many risks of filling out online questionnaires, warns Professor Chris Leckie, director of the University of Melbourne's Academic Centre of Cyber Security Excellence.
"First, with this type of scam, people are asked to provide their credit card details for an offer that looks like a bargain," he said.
"The scammers will then attempt to use those credit card details for fraudulent transactions that are charged back to the victim's credit card — potentially leading to a much greater financial loss than just the initial $3 transaction.
"If the offer seems too good to be true, it may well be a scam. I recommend people do a quick search first."
Sydney Airport, AFP warns public to stay vigilant
A Sydney Airport spokesperson urged the public to "stay vigilant to social media scams and to only trust information from Sydney Airport's official verified accounts".
The spokesperson also noted that airlines are responsible for handling lost bags or luggage that have been checked in, not the airport.
Sydney Airport's lost property team only handles items left in the terminals or car parks.
Every year, thousands of items are returned to their rightful owners, but any unclaimed items are either donated to local charities or repurposed in Sydney Airport's Lost Property Auction.
received 280,240 reports this year, with people losing more than $455 million to scams. By far the biggest losses were to investment scams, with almost $276 million lost, followed by dating and romance scams ($33.5 million).
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says people may be more vulnerable to scams during the Christmas season.
"Cybercriminals are extremely opportunistic and will be making the most of the busy Christmas period by impersonating legitimate businesses and tricking people into clicking harmful links, otherwise known as phishing," the AFP said on its website.
Commander of the AFP's Cybercrime Operations Chris Goldsmid said, "We’re warning shoppers not to let their guard down this holiday season."
"These types of scams can be really difficult to spot as cybercriminals will often impersonate well-known brands by using their name and logo.
"I am urging shoppers to take time to verify who is sending you communication about your online shopping. If it looks suspicious, it may very well be a scam."
Scamwatch reports the number of fake SMS messages for parcel deliveries has increased in the holiday season, as people may be receiving gift deliveries and are more likely to respond to these messages by providing their personal details.
