Extended Holiday Hours, Scam Tips Aid Shoppers

• Online shoppers urged to stay alert as festive scam activity likely to intensify
• Parcel delivery scams evolving with new tech that mimics trusted brands
• Extra trading hours approved to make Christmas shopping more convenient
• Part of Cook Government's focus on building safe and inclusive communities

Consumers are being urged to stay vigilant as scam risks escalate in the lead-up to the festive season, with extended in-store trading hours in Western Australia offering a convenient alternative to online shopping.

Scammers have already cost Western Australians nearly $466,000 in shopping-related scams in 2025, with $165,791 lost to online shopping, $294,167 through online marketplaces, and $6,000 to fake parcel deliveries, according to new data from WA ScamNet, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety's Consumer Protection division.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales approaching, consumers are reminded to be cautious when chasing online bargains. Scammers often use fake websites or social media adverts that impersonate trusted retailers to lure consumers into handing over money or personal information.

A global phishing campaign known as 'Darcula' is raising concerns for mimicking trusted brands and bypassing spam filters, fuelling parcel scams where scammers pose as couriers - including Australia Post - via texts about undelivered parcels and bogus fees. These messages link to fake sites that steal personal data or install malware.

Shoppers chasing second-hand bargains are warned to watch for fake listings on online marketplaces, where scammers demand upfront payment and vanish - sometimes sending victims to false addresses.

To make in-store shopping more accessible and support local retailers, the State Government has approved 36 additional trading hours for general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area this festive season, starting Saturday 6 December 2025.

Saturday trading will be extended by an additional hour - from 8am to 6pm (normally 8am to 5pm) and Sunday and public holiday trading will be extended by four hours daily - from 8am to 6pm (normally 11am to 5pm). From Monday 15 December through to Christmas Eve, larger shops may also open an hour earlier, trading from 7am to 9pm on weekdays.

Following the festive season, extended trading hours have also been approved for most public holidays, including New Year's Day, Australia Day, Labour Day, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day public holiday, WA Day and the King's Birthday, with general retail shops in Perth and some regional areas permitted to open from 8am to 6pm.

A package of extended trading hours was also offered to regional areas. Consumers are encouraged to check the Consumer Protection website for trading hours specific to their area: https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/retail-trading-hours

Scams can be reported through the WA ScamNet website: www.scamnet.wa.gov.au

As stated by Commerce Minister Dr Tony Buti:

"Scammers are highly opportunistic and know the festive season is a time when people are shopping more and expecting online deliveries.

"The Cook Labor Government urges everyone to pause before clicking on links or making payments, especially if a deal seems too good to be true, or a message claims a parcel issue.

"Always verify delivery details via official courier apps or websites, never enter personal or financial information via message links, and only pay using secure methods like credit card or PayPal, which offers better protection if things go wrong.

"We've extended retail trading hours this Christmas to make shopping more convenient for the community and to help drive sales that support our vital retail sector."

Festive season trading 2025 - Perth metro (Extended hours in bold)

Public holidays - 2026