Australian authorities are reminding consumers that online safety should never take a holiday while Internet shopping during the festive season. The warning comes as shopping online, especially for products from the US, has never been more attractive in the lead up to Christmas while consumers seek out bargains due to the strong Australian dollar.

The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) issued a joint statement on Friday encouraging consumers to take some basic safety precautions and protect their personal information when shopping online.

The ABA and AFP have produced a fact sheet which lists simple tips to help online shoppers reduce the risk of fraud and to protect themselves from unwanted interference.

With almost half of Australia's population being active Internet users, a practical idea for a Christmas gift might be anti-virus software for the household computer.

Cyber criminals and Internet fraudsters don't take holidays and neither should Internet shoppers' vigilance when it comes to online safety.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan, National Manager of the AFP's High Tech Crime Operations said, "All Internet users should be aware that the use of Internet technology can allow virtual strangers to obtain large amounts of personal information relating to a wide range of personal activities."

"Common sense is the key when it comes to shopping online. As a rule, it is recommended you apply a standard 'physical world' test to any online shopping. Particularly at this time of the year when people are looking for a bargain, if an offer looks too good to be true, it may be a hoax or scam."

ABA chief executive Steven Münchenberg said: "Banks will be playing their part to protect cardholders by monitoring and protecting accounts if they identify any suspicious transactions."

"But before proceeding to the online cash register, it's important that you do some research on the merchant, so that you can be confident that you are transacting with a business that you can trust and a business that will protect your personal information, including your credit or debit card details."

"Sometimes businesses request large amounts of information they don't need, so think about limiting the amount of information before providing. Never send your credit card number by email. Emails are not secure."