Consumers have always been worried about security when shopping online, but their concern has grown significantly over recent years. According to PayPal’s eCommerce Index 2025, 79% of Australian consumers are more worried about the security of their data than they were 12 months ago. Given 1-in-8 (12%) have lost money as the result of a scam, and 10% have purchased something through a fake website, it’s not surprising.
What makes matters complicated for businesses is that nearly three-quarters (71%) are are not confident that Aussie businesses will keep their details safe.
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), these figures highlight the growing importance of working to earn and maintain consumer trust. Payment fraud – from card fraud to online impersonation – is more than just an operational hiccup; it can impact your revenue and the reputation you have worked so hard to foster.
The rise of online fraud and scams is a direct threat to SMBs' bottom lines in multiple ways. A quarter (25%) of SMBs are experiencing more attempted payment fraud and 1-in-7 (15%) experience more chargeback fraud than 3 years ago. The cost of chargebacks, lost goods to fraudulent payments, and time spent managing these security issues can be significant, especially on already time-poor SMBs.
But security concerns can cost SMBs legitimate sales and revenue too. Nearly half (44%) of Australian consumers have abandoned their shopping carts because of security concerns. Every abandoned cart represents a missed sale, and those missed opportunities can quickly add up, impacting cashflow and customer loyalty.
With 34% of SMBs reporting that low sales and financial challenges are leading stressors,1 losing customers over trust and security issues only adds more pressure. That means that SMBs need more than basic fraud prevention safeguards at checkout. They need a comprehensive, adaptable payments platform that helps inspire consumer trust, ensure safety and enable growth.
And that’s where PayPal Complete Payments comes in.
Designed with SMBs in mind, PayPal Complete Payments offers SMBs a simple yet powerful way to manage payments seamlessly, whether online or in person. The platform offers advanced tools and enterprise-level capabilities that cater to the needs of Australian SMBs, including risk management, to keep both you and your customers safe.
With PayPal Complete Payments, SMBs get to access 3D Secure which adds an extra layer of verification during online purchases, and chargeback protections which help guard your business against eligible chargebacks.
The platform is also equipped with signature PayPal security features. Seller Protection helps protect businesses against losing revenue to claims and chargebacks, while fraud protection tools deploy smart filters to automatically detect and decline fraudulent transactions.
While PayPal keeps businesses safer from unauthorised and fraudulent transactions, PayPal Complete Payments also helps boost customer confidence and improve checkout conversion. Eighty-four percent (84%) of Australians are concerned about making a purchase where PayPal is not available.
In today’s eCommerce landscape, where trust and security are non-negotiable, PayPal Complete Payments gives SMBs the tools they need to succeed. With the platform’s comprehensive security capabilities, businesses can focus on what they do best – serving their customers.
Learn more about the security issues impacting Australian businesses in the PayPal eCommerce Index 2025.
In partnership with three expert business owners, the PayPal Bootcamp includes practical checklists and a short video loaded with tips to help take your business to the next level.
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