As stores and shopping malls open for the Boxing Day sales...people who like to bargain hunt online are being warned to watch out for scams

Rip-offs related to products and services fraud accounted for 3.3 million dollars of losses last year.

Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker says people often don't realise they've been caught until about February, when the goods haven't arrived.

He says rushing into a purchase plays into the hands of scammers, as people are less likely to the obvious signs of a scam.