US EditionGoogle Issues Black Friday Warning—Do Not Shop On These Websites
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission targets false advertising and scams, citing penalties for retailers like Michael Hill and Hairhouse for misleading Black Friday sales claims.
- On November 28, ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe put retailers on notice to review sales advertising practices to ensure claims are accurate and not misleading ahead of Black Friday.
- The ACCC's action follows a sweep last year that flagged problematic sales practices and this year Michael Hill, My House and Hairhouse online paid penalties for allegedly misleading Black Friday claims.
- Regulators flagged misleading limited-time representations, 'site-wide' sale claims, and 'up to X per cent off' discounts for scrutiny, and officials said they will crack down on offers breaking rules.
- Shoppers should check prices now to confirm genuine bargains, Catriona Lowe said, urging consumers to access retailer websites directly, enable two-factor authentication and use secure payment methods.
- Amid major shopping periods, security advisories warn scam activity rises as scammers exploit demand while a NordPass study finds weak password protections on the 1,000 most visited websites.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Retailers warned by ACCC over misleading Black Friday sales tactics
Ahead of what's now become one of the biggest sales seasons in the country, Black Friday, the competition watchdog has warned retailers it's got it eye on them. The ACCC is watching for misleading limited time offers or claim, and says it'll be cracking down on brands that break the rules.
Warning for shoppers hoping to find a Black Friday bargain
Shoppers looking for a bargain this Black Friday should watch out for sales scams.Consumer bosses are warning they'll be looking out for banned sales tactics in the next few weeks.They're warning shoppers to check carefully if sales are actually genuine.READ MORE: Radio icon John Laws dies aged 90They'll be cracking down on offers that break the rules."We are putting retailers on notice to review their sales advertising practices to ensure tha…
ACCC cautions retailers ahead of Black Friday
The ACCC will conduct a Black Friday sales sweep to identify misleading or deceptive sales advertising used by retailers. The sweep will focus on a range of sales advertising tactics used by retailers. This includes misleading limited time representations that create a false sense of urgency for consumers, misleading ‘site-wide’ or ‘store-wide’ claims about sales and claims of ‘up to X% off’, where few products are on sale at X% off. “We are put…
On Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Singles Day, the trade promises big discounts – what to consider when shopping The Christmas business starts: First the Singles Day attracts, then the Cyber Monday and finally the Black Friday as the highlight of the discount weeks in November. On these days, there are only so many special offers and price reductions. But what about the savings promise of the trade? "Not every rogue advertising statement is real…
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently announced that it will conduct stricter monitoring of retailer advertising during the 2025 Black Friday shopping season, focusing on combating misleading promotional tactics, including false "storewide discounts" and "limited-time offers." The ACCC stated that these tactics can influence consumer purchasing decisions, leading consumers to impulsive purchases under the false impre…
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