As millions of Australians scroll through Black Friday, Cyber Monday and end-of-year sales, scammers colour the online world with deception in every shade imaginable; some bright and attention-grabbing, others muted and hard to spot, and some blending into the background so seamlessly that people don’t realise they’ve been targeted until it’s too late.
Understanding these shifting shades can help you recognise the warning signs before you click.
The Neon Deal Scam – Bright, Loud, Too Good to Be True
Neon deals are designed to grab your attention with prices that look impossible. A one-hundred-dollar iPhone, designer sneakers cheaper than lunch or a console slashed to half price “for the next five minutes.” These bright, glowing offers rely on urgency and impulse.
Neon scams often feature prices far below normal, countdown timers, unknown sellers or websites with no reviews or contact details. If everything feels a bit too bright and flashy, it usually is.
Example: A pop-up ad claims a brand-new Dyson is “80 percent off for the next four minutes.” The timer resets every time you refresh the page.
The Smoky Grey Mimic – The Almost-Real Fake
Grey is the colour of uncertainty, and scammers use it to make fake sites look close enough to the real thing. Logos, product descriptions and layouts are copied, but the goods never arrive or turn up as counterfeits.
Smoky grey scams usually have small spelling errors in the URL, generic product descriptions and no clear returns process. Everything looks familiar at first glance, but just off enough to raise suspicion.
Example: You search for a popular clothing brand and click the first result, not noticing the site is “CountryRoads.co” instead of “CountryRoad.com.”
The Green Cashback Trap – The Promise of Easy Money
Green suggests savings and rewards, making it the perfect colour for scammers offering bonuses, cashback or gift cards that never materialise.
These scams often require upfront payment, direct banking details or sign-ups through unofficial apps or surveys demanding too much personal information. The promise of “easy money” is what hooks people in.
Example: An Instagram ad claims you’ll get a $150 gift card if you “register now,” but registration includes uploading your driver’s licence and entering bank details.
The Red Alert Delivery Scam – Urgent and Stressful
Red signals alarm, and fake delivery texts use that feeling to push you into quick decisions. They claim your parcel is delayed, requires a fee or needs your details confirmed.
These messages often contain suspicious links, unexpected charges, no personalised greeting or reference to parcels you never ordered. The goal is to make you act before thinking.
Example: You receive a text saying “Your package is on hold – pay $2.75 to release it.” You haven’t ordered anything, but the wording is designed to make you panic.
The Blue “Helpful” Support Scam – Calm, Polished, and False
Blue feels official and trustworthy, which is why scammers use it to mimic customer support emails or service notifications. They look polished, professional and harmless.
These scams often ask you to verify your details, update payment information or log in via unfamiliar links. The tone feels calm and corporate, but the request crosses the line into private territory.
Example: You receive an email that looks like it’s from PayPal saying, “Your account needs verification.” The link leads to a login page that isn’t PayPal at all.