Scammers are taking advantage of the busy Christmas period by imitating Australia Post to defraud consumers.

Customers are warned to look out for text messages and emails claiming to be from AusPost and asking for additional credit card payments or redirecting to suspicious websites.

Through a practice called ‘spoofing’, scammers can make it seem as though the real AusPost is sending the messages. AusPost have reminded customers they will never request personal information.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Deputy Chair Delia Rickard says there are multiple variations of the postal scams to be wary of.

“We do a number of things to try and disrupt these scams, as does Australia Post, but getting the message out like we’re doing today has to be the best way.

“The best thing to do is, if you get a message about a missed parcel, look up the phone number for the courier company or local Australia Post and give them a call.”

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Image: Getty/Karl Tapales