MyCRA Specialist Credit Repair Lawyers

Tag: cybercrime

Cybercrime Hot Spots In Victoria, Queensland And New South Wales – ACORN Receives 39,000 Cybercrime Reports In 2015

[fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”fixed” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”1px” border_color=”#e5e4e4″ border_style=”solid” padding_top=”5px” padding_bottom=”0px” padding_left=”10px” padding_right=”10px” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”intro” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]

Do You Live In A Cybercrime Hot Spot In Victoria, Queensland Or New South Wales?

Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network receives more than 39,000 reports

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

“18 January 2016

The Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) is continuing to boost law enforcements efforts to crack down on cybercrime, with more than 39,000 reports received from individuals and organisations in 2015.

As Australia’s reliance on technology grows, and online shopping remains an increasingly attractive option for busy Australians, the cost and incidence of cybercrime is expected to increase.

ACORN is a national policing initiative that allows cybercrime victims to easily and instantly report cases of criminal activity online, as well as providing information on how to avoid falling victim to cyber criminals.

Many instances of cybercrime go unreported because victims either do not know where to report, don’t think it’s worth reporting, or are reluctant to do so.

The leading types of cybercrime being reported to the ACORN are online fraud and scams, with 19,232 reports received, accounting for 49 per cent of the total reports received in 2015.

Online trading issues which affect Australians who buy and sell goods online were the second highest type of cybercrime reported; the ACORN received 8,368 reports which accounts for 22 per cent of total reports in 2015.

Victoria received the highest number of cybercrime reports, closely followed by Queensland and New South Wales.

The majority of reported victims of cybercrime were between 20 and 40 years of age (40%), followed by the 40-60 age group (38%).

Over the past year, email, social networking, and website advertising have been the top three reported online channels used by cybercriminals to target their victims.

The Government launched the ACORN in November 2014 as an easy way for the public to report cybercrime and contribute to a national intelligence database which authorities can use to identify and shut down criminals.

I encourage all members of the public to be vigilant online and to work together to ensure a safer and more secure digital environment for all Australians by reporting to the ACORN.

The ACORN can be accessed online at www.acorn.gov.au.”[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”15″ bottom_margin=”5″ sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]Who do you know that might have been the victim or almost the victim of an online scam or an identity theft issue or that has a bad credit rating, you might like to think how much you’d appreciate some help if you’d just been through something like this, and how grateful you’d be if your friend or trusted advisor let you know that you have options to get your life back.

Let your friends know that MyCRA lawyers has an independently audited success rate of 91.6% of all matters taken on* received a successful default removal resolution and approx. a 1/3 of them received the good news within 7 days or less.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”15″ bottom_margin=”5″ sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]As you think about who you might refer, you might think back over the clients that have been rejected for credit issues by you or your lenders for the past 3 or so years. Hope is an amazing gift you can give them and it’ll cost you nothing to mention MyCRA Lawyers to them all. Refer them through using our simple and convenient 90-second online referral form by clicking the button below.[/fusion_text][fusion_button link=”” color=”default” size=”large” stretch=”” type=”3d” shape=”pill” target=”_self” title=”” gradient_colors=”|” gradient_hover_colors=”|” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” icon=”fa-user-plus” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” modal=”online-referral” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ animation_offset=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””]Quick – Easy – 90 Second Client Referral – Click Here Now[/fusion_button][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”15″ bottom_margin=”5″ sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”1px” border_color=”#a7d686″ border_style=”solid” padding=”5px” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”#d4af37″ margin_top=”10px” margin_bottom=”10px” class=”” id=””]Testimonial[/fusion_title][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”#d4af37″ margin_top=”10px” margin_bottom=”10px” class=”” id=””]Testimonial[/fusion_title][fusion_text]

“Thank you so much I will tell all my Doctor friends, family, and I will recommend them to you.”

“… for me impossible to get any loan, without your help …”

“… And Lauren Andrew, ahhh Phillip Anthony, Cory – they are all amazing, you know? I can’t tell you how beautiful the service was, it’s amazing, it’s changed my life. It’s changed my life and it’s saved me thousands of dollars because you know the bank wanted to give me 10% because of my credit file. My excellent, my credit history now, it’s back on track…” Dr Kamal Zgheib – Qld

[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

Dr Kamal Zgheib default removal | MyCRA Lawyers Testimonial

Listen to the Telephone call between Graham Doessel and Dr Kamal.

[/fusion_text][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”#d4af37″ margin_top=”10px” margin_bottom=”10px” class=”” id=””]Testimonial[/fusion_title][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”yes” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”bottomshadow” hover_type=”zoomin” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”up” animation_speed=”1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”#d4af37″ margin_top=”10px” margin_bottom=”10px” class=”” id=””]Testimonial[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_section_separator divider_candy=”bottom” icon=”” icon_color=”” bordersize=”1px” bordercolor=”#333333″ backgroundcolor=”#333333″ class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”https://mycralawyers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bkgd_bw2.jpg” background_parallax=”fixed” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”#e5e4e4″ border_style=”solid” padding_top=”65px” padding_bottom=”50px” padding_left=”20px” padding_right=”20px” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”#d4af37″ margin_top=”10px” margin_bottom=”10px” class=”” id=””]Testimonial[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonials design=”classic” backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=”” random=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonial name=”Jess” avatar=”female” image=”” image_border_radius=”” company=”Qld” link=”” target=”_self”]Thank you so much for a great service that was professional and very prompt.[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonials design=”classic” backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=”” random=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonial name=”Sean” avatar=”male” image=”” image_border_radius=”” company=”NSW” link=”” target=”_self”]thanks a lot for stellar results on the client I referred Friday. Credit Card Default from a trigger happy major was removed in 3 days. Impressive[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonials design=”classic” backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=”” random=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonial name=”Joseph” avatar=”male” image=”” image_border_radius=”” company=”WA” link=”” target=”_self”]I would like to inform you that, after spoken to you yesterday, I called Veda and they told me that my credit default has been removed. I also ordered for my new credit report and indeed the Optus default listing was not there, plus my credit score went up 546 – 716%. I Just want to thank you guys for following up
Thank you
[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonials design=”classic” backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=”” random=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonial name=”Awhina” avatar=”female” image=”” image_border_radius=”” company=”WA” link=”” target=”_self”]Thank you very much for your prompt handling of this matter. Thank you also to Corey who saved me a lot of to and throw (billing minutes) by quickly accessing my file for an up-to-the-minute update, supported by ‘NOW’ emails regarding progress, including clear understandable trust account billing.

I found it very refreshing get have an ‘off the record’frank discussions drawing on the experience of the team to be absolutely golden! I was able to carry on with business, rest assured myCRA Lawyers had everything under control.

MyCRA delivered on time and on budget.

Top Job Guys!! I will gladly recommend MyCRA Lawyers to family and friends in the future[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonials design=”classic” backgroundcolor=”” textcolor=”” random=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_testimonial name=”Stefan” avatar=”male” image=”” image_border_radius=”” company=”Qld” link=”” target=”_self”]I contacted MyCRA Lawyers after being off work with an injury.
It started by missing a couple of small payments, power, phone then an existing loan I had.
Still unable to return to work, things started to compound exponentially and before I knew it I started getting calls from up to 3 different debt collectors 5 times a day.

I felt powerless to do anything about it and decided to give Graham Doessel at MyCRA Lawyers a call. Within the first week Graham and his expert team had completely removed the $1000 debt but more importantly, the default listing from VEDA. Their high success rate of removing defaults, combined with their extensive knowledge of debt collectors not adhering to certain rules they must follow means the defaults can be removed quicker than you would expect.
I would certainly recommend their services, and can’t tell you how satisfied you feel when the burden is lifted.[/fusion_testimonial][/fusion_testimonials][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”3_5″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

As you think about who you might refer, you might think back over the clients that have been rejected for credit issues by you or your lenders for the past 3 or so years. Hope is an amazing gift you can give them and it’ll cost you nothing to mention MyCRA Lawyers to them all. Refer them through using our simple and convenient 90-second online referral form by clicking the big Green Button to the right.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_5″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”30″ sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_button link=”” color=”default” size=”large” stretch=”” type=”3d” shape=”pill” target=”_self” title=”” gradient_colors=”|” gradient_hover_colors=”|” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” icon=”fa-user-plus” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” modal=”online-referral” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ animation_offset=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””]Quick – Easy – 90 Second Client Referral – Click Here Now[/fusion_button][fusion_modal name=”online-referral” title=”Refer Your Client Safely, Quickly and Easily To MyCRA Lawyers.” size=”large” background=”” border_color=”” show_footer=”yes” class=”” id=””][contact-form-7 id=”6860″ title=”Online Referrer”][/fusion_modal][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Past results are no indication of future success.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

20/01/2016
Bad Credit Scams, Cyberbullying And Identity Theft All Lead To ACORN
Have you been the victim of an online scam and too embarrassed to tell anyone?
What about Identity Theft? Have you got unusual activity on your credit file?
- Credit enquiries for credit you didn’t apply for?
- Different addresses you’ve never lived at?
- Linked credit files to names very similar (or the same) as yours that may be stopping you getting finance approved?
Have you been the victim of a phishing hoax scam like the emails from the bank asking you to ‘re-enter your details’?

Have you been the victim of CyberBullying?

We all rely on the internet so much these days and the scammers and fraudsters are becoming harder to detect.

At long last, The Australian Government in conjunction with law Enforcement Agencies and Police have joined forces and created A.C.O.R.N. which stands for “Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network“

If you believe you may be the victim of an online scam or Cybercrime, please go to to lodge an official report.

Learn more about the different types of Cybercrime

If you have been the victim of a CyberCrime and have a bad credit rating as a result, you will often need to evidence that you have reported the crime before the bad credit can be removed.

Contact MyCRA Expert Credit Repair Lawyers for more information on Toll Free 1300 667 218
09/01/2015
Is your good name at risk? What you may not know about identity theft and your credit file

It is reported that possibly as many as 24 per cent of Australians* have been, or knows someone who has been, a victim of identity crime in the last six months. As this week is National Identity Fraud Awareness Week, we are hoping to do our part to raise awareness about this crime. Victims are not always ‘gullible’ as may be the impression in the wider community. Many experts say it is not a matter of if you experience an identity theft attempt, but when. So we look at the facts on identity crime both worldwide and in Australia, and hope to educate more people about this new crime wave, as it can severely impact your credit file and hinder your ability to obtain credit. It could also help to pass the information on to someone you know.

By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au

Australian Federal Police released a statement yesterday warning Australians to defend themselves against identity crime. AFP National Coordinator Identity Security Strike Team’s Darren Booy said this year’s focus is on limiting the amount of personl information that falls into the hands of criminals.

“Identity fraud is an emerging threat to Australia and is growing rapidly, with identity fraudsters using increasingly sophisticated methods to manipulate their victims,” Superintendant Booy said in a statement to the media.

Who commits identity theft?

It can originate from someone you know – for example an acquaintance obtains identity documents or credit card details to impersonate you. Or more increasingly it comes from professional fraudsters whose main occupation is to steal personal information and financial details in order to commit fraud. These fraudsters are reportedly part of a network of criminals possibly involved in many other crimes. The Australian Federal Police recently stated that most large crime groups have built identity theft into their repertoire.

The key to successful identity theft is obtaining your vital personal information. The internet is a big source of personal information and its ever increasing use makes you more vulnerable to identity crime than ever. This means identity crime can have very long arms and can originate overseas. Social networking, online banking, company databases and email scams can all be havens for today’s cyber- criminal.

You can also fall victim to a number of rampant telephone scams, credit card skimming, or criminals can also take to going through your rubbish bin for anything they may be able to use to steal your identity.

Why is identity theft increasing?

The pay-offs are huge for criminals. It is estimated by the Australian Crime Commission that identity crime costs Australians $1 billion a year.( OECD Committee on Consumer Policy, Online Identity Theft, February 2009, p. 37).

In cyber circles alone, world estimated costs for cybercrime are staggering.

Cyber-crime expert Mischa Glenny says that while there are no precise figures out there, the White House suggested in 2009 that cybercime and industrial espionage inflicts damage of around U.S.$1tn per year, which is almost 1.75% of GDP.

“Traditional bank robbers must be absolutely gobsmacked when they hear sums like this being hoovered up by cyber- criminals week in, week out,” he said in an article Cybercrime: is it out of control?

How would identity theft impact my life?

We consider if someone is alerted to having money stolen from credit cards early, or perhaps is able to call their bank and stop fraud in its tracks – that they are the lucky ones.

The unlucky identity theft victim is unaware of the fraud until their identity is misused, and their credit rating with it. When identity theft damages your credit rating – it is because the fraudster has been able to overtake credit accounts, or has gained access to enough personally identifiable information about you to forge new identity documents.

This gives the fraudster access to credit cards, loans, even mortgages which allows them to extract significant amounts of money without you realising it straight away.

Fraudsters are never kind enough to pay back the credit they obtain in your name. After 60 days you may be issued with written notification of non-payment and the intention for the creditor to list a default on your credit file. It is at this moment that some people who were previously unaware of any problems find out they have been victims of this more sophisticated type of identity theft.

But often the credit file holder has also had their contact details changed – and this means it is not until they apply for credit in their own right and are refused that they find out about the identity fraud. This can be a significant time after the initial crime.

When would I know if I have been a victim of identity theft?

Some signs to watch out for include:

1. Strange unaccountable withdrawals on credit or personal bank accounts. It may not need to be a big amount to indicate fraud. Many criminals do ‘test’ amounts to begin with before extracting more significant amounts.

2. Phone calls or emails from what often appear to be legitimate companies, asking for money or personal details. If you have given bank details or personal information in this way either online or on the phone there is a high chance it was a scam. Verify with the company in question.

3. Can’t log in to social networking or bank accounts.

4. Credit refusal

5. Bills or letters of demand sent to you for accounts you don’t know about

6. Missing mail – particularly credit card statements which could indicate someone has overtaken your accounts. In this case no news is not good news.

What steps can I take to prevent identity theft?

1. Keep virus software up to date on your computer. Install automatic updates and perform regular virus scans.

2. Keep your privacy settings secure on all social networking sites.

3. Keep your passwords and PIN numbers secure. Don’t carry PIN numbers with your credit/debit cards, change passwords regularly and use a variety of passwords for different purposes.

4. Check all your credit card and bank statements each time they come in.

5. Cross-shred all personally identifiable information which you no longer need.

6. Buy a safe for your personal information at home.

7. Do not give any personal information or credit card details to anyone via phone or email unless you are sure the site is secure, and or you can verify the company details.

8. Be aware of who gets our personal information and for what purposes. What can these people do with the information they are gathering? For instance, is it really necessary for the site you are registering on to have your date of birth?

9. Keep up to date with the latest scams by subscribing to the ACCC’s ‘SCAM watch’ website. For a list of ways your computer can put you at risk, visit the governments Stay Smart Online website www.staysmartonline.gov.au.

10. Check your credit file regularly. A credit check at least every 12 months (which is free annually) will alert you to any suspicious activity with your credit file.

If you think you might be vulnerable to identity theft, here are some things you need to do:

What can I do if I suspect I am a victim of identity theft?

1. Notify Police immediately. Many people do nothing due to embarrassment, or because they don’t believe the fraud was significant enough. But is only through this crime getting reported that statistics get collated, and we start to have any chance of catching the criminals.

2. Notify creditors. You may need to cancel credit accounts.

3. Obtain a credit report. This report is free once per year for every Australian who holds a credit file. It will indicate to you whether any of your contact details have changed, or whether there have been credit enquiries on your account. If you act quickly enough, you may be able to stop your credit rating from being affected by black marks which would come from fraudsters obtaining credit in your name.

4. Notify credit reporting agencies of the possible fraud. They will be able to put an alert on your credit file.

5. Police may assist you in obtaining a Victims of Commonwealth Identity Crime certificate, if they believe you are eligible. You can apply to a magistrate in your State for this certificate, which may help in recovering your credit rating or credit accounts. Victims need to have had a Commonwealth Indictable Offence committed against them. For more information, visit the Attorney-General’s website www.ag.gov.au.

If you or someone you know needs help recovering their credit rating following identity theft, contact MyCRA Credit Repairs, www.mycra.com.au or call a Credit Repair Advisor tollfree on 1300 667 218 for confidential advice and help restoring your good name.

The Australian Federal Police have established an Identity Crime Survey to test people’s vulnerability to identity crime, and we encourage everyone to take the test: http://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/campaigns/national-identity-fraud-awareness-week.aspx

09/10/2012
Australia has new privacy legislation to fight worldwide cybercrime

New laws passed the Senate yesterday changing Australia’s privacy legislation to bring us in line with other countries and pave the way for Australia to accede to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime – effectively allowing Australia to work alongside other countries to share and access information to aid in investigations of cybercrime. We look at the implications for this new bill, and the benefit in investigating fraud cases which can not only lead to loss of monies but negatively impact the victim’s credit file.

By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

We have been following the passage of this Bill through Parliament for over 12 months, since its introduction into the House of Representatives in June. See http://mycra.com.au/blog/2011/06/government-brings-laws-war-cyber-crime-identity-theft/ and http://mycra.com.au/blog/2011/11/bill-fight-global-cybercrime-coming-year/ and looking at the possible impact these changes could have on identity theft numbers.

The Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 amends the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987, the Criminal Code Act 1995, the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 and the Telecommunications Act 1997.

The Government amended the Bill in the Senate to address some of the recommendations made by the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety, including privacy protections and aspects of the provision of assistance to foreign agencies. The Government has agreed in principle with 12 of the Committee’s 13 recommendations.

The passing of the Bill means Australia is one step closer to acceding to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, meaning it would join 34 other nations that have already become a party to the Convention. The Convention is the first international treaty on crimes committed via the Internet and other computer networks, dealing particularly with computer-related fraud, child pornography and violations of network security.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said in a statement to the media yesterday that the Convention will help make it easier for police to track down cyber criminals around the world.

“In particular, this will help combat criminal offences relating to forgery, fraud, child pornography, and infringement of copyright and intellectual property.

“The Convention promotes a coordinated approach to cybercrime by requiring countries to criminalise these computer related offences. The Convention also establishes procedures to make investigations more efficient to improve international cooperation,” Ms Roxon says.

Privacy Protection or Privacy Invasion?

One well publicised change to Privacy Law will be the increase in police powers of surveillance. Police will be able to enforce the retaining of data by internet service providers on persons of interest even before they have an arrest warrant.

Whilst these legal changes are widely approved, some raised concerns during a Senate inquiry into online privacy that this part of the law threatens the Privacy of individuals and threatens human rights and civil liberties.

There are so many reports that the world is effectively chasing the tail of cybercriminals – the extent of which is far-reaching and difficult to combat. Australia is reportedly now a prime target for fraud with many accounts of scams, bugs, phishing attacks etc etc often instigated from overseas shores.

To find out more about how we as ordinary Australians fit into the cyber-crime puzzle, you can read our blog post about the ‘Dark Market’: http://mycra.com.au/blog/2011/09/insight-%e2%80%98dark-market%e2%80%99-cyber-crime-underworld/.

And often by the time people know they have had fraud committed against them the dust has long settled on any trace.

But the effects can be felt for years by their victims, especially if the fraudsters are able to steal an identity, and take credit out in their victim’s name. The victim is then not only faced with a mountain of debt, and a series of defaults against their credit file. Both of which are not easy to recover from. They have to prove it wasn’t them that initiated the debt – pretty hard when there is no actual ‘perpetrator’ that anyone can see.

For the sake of people in this situation, and victims of other cybercrimes – in particular, child pornography which is possibly more rampant, more damaging and more difficult to investigate – we need to get united as we are on the Web.

It may be a bitter pill to swallow for Australians to give up some of their rights to Privacy to be replaced with more privacy protection but we may all have to swallow it regardless.

What you can do to protect your credit rating from identity theft

Our message at MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs is: please take steps to protect your credit rating from fraud!

Educate yourself – visit the government sites like SCAMwatch, Stay Smart Online, and the Attorney-General’s website. If you are interested in keeping up to date with what could be occurring – say in cyber-circles you can visit technology sites like ZD Net Australia, or Computerworld or even subscribe to MyCRA’s RSS Feed for updates on security issues affecting credit files.

Know what’s on your credit file – grab a free copy of your credit file today from one or more of Australia’s credit reporting agencies, Veda Advantage, Dun & Bradstreet, and TASCOL in Tasmania which will be mailed to you within 10 days.
Your credit report is free every 12 months – take advantage of this by ordering a copy every year. Make sure there are no defaults currently attached to your file. If they shouldn’t be there or there are errors – you may be eligible for credit repair.

If you feel vulnerable to fraud, for a fee credit reporting agency Veda offers an ‘alert’ service, which informs you of ANY changes to your credit file such as a change of contact details or a credit enquiry, which would point to you being a victim of identity theft – possibly BEFORE there are harmful defaults put against your name.

For more information on identity theft, or help with credit repair following identity theft, contact MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs tollfree on 1300 667 218 or visit our website www.mycra.com.au.

Image: Victor/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image 2: thanunkorn/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

23/08/2012
Smartphone users still not smartening up about cyber security

MyCRA is a partner in Cyber Security Awareness Week 2012 running 12-15 June. The issue of smartphone security was put forward as a growing area of concern amongst information security experts. We look at the dangers of lax smartphone security – since reports show about 4000 smartphones are lost or stolen in Australia every week.

By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

Yesterday Inside Retail published research from PayPal Australia showing that smartphone users did not afford the same type of security for their smartphones that they may afford for their home computers. The article, titled Security fears over m-commerce reveals some worrying statistic on smartphone security, considering the increasing use of smartphones to perform functions normally reserved for personal computers.

PayPal Australia’s research shows:

One in six (16 per cent) of Australian smartphone users have lost, misplaced or had their phone stolen in the last year

BUT only 30 per cent remotely wiped their data after losing their smartphone and less than half (43 per cent) changed their online passwords.

AND half (49 per cent) of Australian smartphone users don’t use a passcode on their mobile device.

Here is an excerpt from that article:

In support of National Cyber Security Awareness Week (NCSAW), PayPal and the Centre for Internet Safety at the University of Canberra (CIS) have called for Australians to stay vigilant with their smartphones as they would their personal computers and wallets. Australians increasingly use smartphones to store a substantial amount of personal data, from bank statements to calendars to social networking profiles….

Prashanth Ranganathan, director of mobile security and risk at PayPal is in Sydney this week in support of NCSAW, speaking to industry stakeholders about the need for consumer education as mobile payments becomes increasingly prevalent.

“Australia is among one of the largest mobile markets in terms of smartphone penetration[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][3]. Australian consumers are increasingly using their smartphones to shop and pay while on the go but are unaware of the size of the digital footprint stored in their smartphones. By transacting through PayPal, consumers are provisioned with an additional layer of protection by ensuring their personal financial information is never stored on the physical device and never shared with businesses they are transacting with,” Ranganathan said.

Australians are keen to take advantage of the mobile convenience of smartphone technology, but according to PayPal’s research are not protecting themselves beyond the home. Smartphone owners were three times more likely to be more mindful of the security of their wallets than of their smartphones and one in three (36 per cent) stay logged into mobile applications.

Alastair MacGibbon, director at CIS said: “With over 12 million Australian smartphone users expected in 2012, criminals are now making moves to target mobile users. Australians must stay alert and ensure they protect themselves across all their devices. As the technology evolves and more Australians use their smartphone devices to fulfill a wider range of functions, consumers need to keep an eye out for fraudulent encounters and be educated about ways to safeguard their smartphones from cybercrime.”…

PayPal and CIS have listed key tips to help consumers better protect themselves while transacting on their smartphones:

• Set up your first line of defense – Enable a unique passcode so that your smartphone automatically locks when you’re not using it.
• Know who you’re transacting with – Use reputable mobile sites and applications. Look out for trust cues like the padlock symbol before entering your financial information.
• Watch out for duplicate applications – Cyber criminals take advantage of trusted brands by creating free applications that mimic the company’s official application. If you’re unsure, always download the application directly from the company’s website.
• Know how you’re connected – Use a secure network to transact online and watch out for people looking over your shoulder while using free Wi-Fi networks.
• Keep track of what you’re sharing – Be aware of the permissions your applications request from you. Review permission requests carefully and only share information that you are comfortable sharing.
• Don’t store sensitive data on your device – never store sensitive financial data on your smartphone.
If your smartphone is lost, stolen or misplaced, remember to:
•Remotely wipe your data – Enable this feature at purchase so that you can use it to your benefit if you lose your device.
• Immediately change your passwords – Change your online passwords for the mobile apps and websites that you automatically sign into, such as email, calendars, social networking sites, app stores, messengers, video sites.
• Get help – Contact your provider or manufacturer and enquire about mobile tracking or whether they can disable your phone on your behalf.

The rise in the use of smartphones, and mobile digital devices in general points to a need for users to be more cautious about the security of those devices, and aware of the potential for identity theft should they fall into the wrong hands.

Smartphones, tablets and laptops give people their lives at the touch of a button – allowing access to email, bank accounts and social networking, but he says this access would be a goldmine for fraudsters.

Research put out by AVG Security last year shows the number of mobile phones reported lost or stolen in Australia has doubled in the past five years to 200,000 annually — that’s 4000 a week, or one every three minutes.

If people have their laptop or I-phone stolen, these days it can be the same as someone breaking into their home or stealing their PC. If the device is not secure, often there is enough information on there for a criminal to go about hacking into their bank accounts, or stealing someone’s identity and taking credit out in their name.

Identity theft can hit twice, often with victims facing an uphill battle with their credit rating following it. Many times the identity theft victim is unaware their good name has been used until they apply for credit somewhere and are flatly refused. People may have credit applications as a minimum and possibly defaults, mortgages and mobile phones attributed to them incorrectly.

Once an account remains unpaid past 60 days, the debt may be listed by the creditor as a default on a person’s credit file. Under current Australian legislation, defaults have to remain listed on the victim’s credit file for a 5 year period.

What is not widely known is how difficult recovery from identity theft can be, due to defaults remaining on credit files for 5 years. Unfortunately there is no guarantee they can be removed from a person’s credit file. The onus is on the identity theft victim to prove their case to creditors.

Security companies like AVG also have software such as ‘AVG Mobilisation’, which can help users track and locate a lost or stolen smartphone or tablet on Google Maps. They can also enable remote locking, and remote wiping allowing personal information to be removed if the device is lost or stolen. There are similar products with other security companies.

People who suspect identity theft should report the matter immediately to Police, no matter how insignificant they think the fraud is.

This crime is not very widely reported. But it is only through people reporting identity theft that any real statistics get collated on this issue. Likewise, if people want to try and repair their credit rating, the first thing I tell them is to make sure they have a Police report.

For more information on identity theft risks and how people can repair their credit rating following identity theft, visit the MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs website www.mycra.com.au.

Image above: Ambro/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

13/06/2012
Bill to fight global cybercrime coming in New Year

The war on global cybercrime and identity theft continues…

The Government’s Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 is set to be passed through the Senate in the New Year, according to reports from The Australian Newspaper ‘Australia to join global anti-cybercrime fight’ today.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland told a Council of Europe meeting yesterday in France that the Government’s Cybercrime Bill will have the “endorsement of Parliament in the new year,”

“For our part, there is no doubt that once Australia has taken the necessary steps to provide for accession to the Convention on Cybercrime, we will be better placed to take on the challenge globally,” he said in a keynote address.

“Our domestic laws will criminalise more nefarious cyber activity and give our crime fighters the right modern tools.

“Information required to prosecute cyber criminals will be protected from destruction whilst law enforcement agencies seek warrants for its access,” he says.

Back in June we blogged about this Bill, ‘Government brings in new laws in war against cyber-crime and identity theft’ following the Government’s signing of the cybercrime treaty in May, and as it made swift changes to some of Australia’s laws to allow the Bill to be passed and implemented with ease. The changes were seen as a necessary response to the growing threat of cybercrime and the global nature of the crime.

Australia will be joining the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, of which more than 40 nations have already signed or become a party to the Convention, including the USA, UK, Canada, Japan and South Africa.

The Convention allows countries to co-operate in investigations to deal with international crimes committed on computer networks, such as online fraud.

The Bill will also give Australian police greater powers to force internet service providers to retain data of customers who are suspected to have committed a cybercrime while the matter is being investigated.

The convention has been criticised by some such as Kapersky Lab’s CEO Eugene Kapersky, who says if non-European, non-English speaking countries will not “join the club” there will be failure.

“Do you think it’s real that if a government computer in Russia is infected, that they will let the US in? Or that the White House will let Russia in? And then China or Latin America? Forget about it,” Kaspersky told SC Magazine.
“It hasn’t worked in 10 years.”

Instead, Mr Kaspersky advocates the need for an “internet Interpol” to manage international crime investigations and liaise with national police forces.

Currently there appears to be great difficulty in investigating and prosecuting international cybercrime rings –especially in respect to online fraud cases. Much of the internet-generated identity theft is not initiated on Australian shores. The worldwide web provides easy international access, meaning elaborate schemes intended to commit identity fraud can be generated from any country and impact ordinary Australians.

In fact, current advice about overseas scams on the government’s SCAMWatch website is almost a disclaimer for failure to prosecute perpetrators of overseas scams:

“due to the ‘fly by night’ nature of many scammers, it is extremely difficult to track them down and take action against them. Though it depends on the circumstances of each case, the ACCC may not be able to take action or enforce Australian Court orders against the many scammers that are based outside of Australia.” the SCAMWatch website explains.

Anything which increases the likelihood of accountability for identity theft and fraud as it relates to the global market should be seen as a positive step, as would the implementation of some of Kapersky’s ideas.

One thing which is certain is we can never rest on our laurels. Constant monitoring and improvement needs to continue and be pushed for to keep up with the vast array of changes technology and the crime that ultimately follows it.

For more information on identity theft related to credit files, contact MyCRA Credit Repairs tollfree on 1300 776 218 or visit the main website www.mycra.com.au.

Image: digitalart/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

24/11/2011
Global cybercrime study reveals cost at $114 billion a year

A worldwide study has calculated the cost of global cybercrime at $114 billion annually.

The Norton Cybercrime Report 2011 surveyed the experiences of 20,000 people in 24 countries including 802 in Australia.

The results reveal 69 per cent of online adults have been a victim of cybercrime in their lifetime. This means there are more than one million cybercrime victims every day. Norton has calculated this would make 431 million adult victims worldwide in the past year, at an estimated annual cost of $388 billion based on financial losses and lost time. This would mean that cybercrime supersedes the costs of the black market in marijuana, cocaine and heroin combined ($288 billion).

For the first time, Norton also reveals the extent of which mobile digital devices make up this number. It says 10 percent of adults online have experienced cybercrime on their mobile phone.

The study identifies men between 18 and 31 years old who access the Internet from their mobile phone as even more likely victims: in this group four in five (80 percent) have fallen prey to cybercrime in their lifetime.

Globally, the most common – and most preventable – type of cybercrime is computer viruses and malware with 54 percent of respondents saying they have experienced it in their lifetime. Viruses are followed by online scams (11 percent) and phishing messages (10 percent).

“There is a serious disconnect in how people view the threat of cybercrime,” said Adam Palmer, Norton Lead Cybersecurity Advisor. “Cybercrime is much more prevalent than people realize. Over the past 12 months, three times as many adults surveyed have suffered from online crime versus offline crime, yet less than a third of respondents think they are more likely to become a victim of cybercrime than physical world crime in the next year. And while 89 percent of respondents agree that more needs to be done to bring cybercriminals to justice, fighting cybercrime is a shared responsibility. It requires us all to be more alert and to invest in our online smarts and safety.”

The disconnect between awareness and action is further illustrated by the fact that while 74 percent of respondents say they are always aware of cybercrime, many are not taking the necessary precautions. Forty-one percent of adults indicated they don’t have an up to date security software suite to protect their personal information online. In addition, less than half review credit card statements regularly for fraud (47 percent), and 61 percent don’t use complex passwords or change them regularly. Among those who access the Internet via their mobile phone, only 16 percent install the most up to date mobile security.

Cyber-generated identity theft

With online identity theft, often people aren’t aware it has occurred to them, until they apply for credit and are refused. At this stage it can be revealed that a long list of defaults have been put there by someone who has used the victim’s good name to obtain credit.

Credit file defaults are debilitating – leaving people unable to obtain home loans, personal loans, even mobile phone plans during the term of the listing which is generally 5 years.

Unfortunately, credit file damage due to identity theft can be very difficult to rectify. To clear their good name, the identity theft victim needs to prove to creditors they did not initiate the credit – which can be difficult. Not only are victims generally required to produce police reports, but large amounts of documentary evidence to substantiate to creditors the case of identity theft.

How to avoid identity theft

Public education can go a long way to lessening the instances of identity theft. The Government’s Stay Smart Online website recommends Australians follow these 8 top tips for increasing their resistance to identity fraud, and avoiding the loss to their bank balance
and potentially their good name. These would apply to all types of internet use, including mobile digital devices:

1. Install and renew your security software and set it to scan regularly.

2. Turn on automatic updates on all your software, including your operating system and other applications.

3. Think carefully before you click on links or attachments, particularly in emails and on social networking sites.

4. Regularly adjust your privacy settings on social networking sites.

5. Report or talk to someone about anything online that makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened – download the government’s Cybersafety Help Button.

6. Stop and think before you post any photos or financial or personal information about yourself, your friends or family.

7. Use strong passwords and change them at least twice a year.

8. Talk within your family about good online safety.

Where to go for help following identity theft

Sometimes unravelling the tangled ‘web’ of online identity fraud for the purposes of negotiating with creditors to restore someone’s good name is a minefield that many individuals have neither the time nor the skill set for.

Credit repairers are more commonly involved in assisting people in cases of identity fraud due to a better knowledge of legislation and ability to work within it when negotiating with creditors over the victim’s financial future.

If you need help with credit repair following identity theft, contact MyCRA Credit Repairs or call tollfree 1300 667 218.

Image: twobee/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

12/09/2011
Government survey reveals our fears of identity theft

A Governement survey on identity theft reveals 9 out of 10 Australians are concerned or very concerned about identity theft and misuse. Rightly so, considering the grave danger it poses to a victim’s financial future through destroying their good credit rating.

The identity theft survey, details of which were released by Attorney-General Robert McLelland, was an independent survey of 1200 people conducted by Di Marzio Research.

It also showed that 1 in 6 people have been a victim or known somebody who has been a victim of identity theft or misuse in the past six months.

The majority of identity theft or misuse occurred over the Internet (58 per cent), or through the loss of a credit or debit card (30 per cent). Stolen identify information was primarily used to purchase goods or services (55 per cent) or to obtain finance, credit or a loan (26 per cent).

Current statistics from the Australian Crime Commission, points to identity theft possibly costing the Australian economy $1 billion per year. The other cost that’s not so widely reported is the expense to the many credit files that occurs as a result. People have their lives put on hold with credit rating defaults they are not responsible for, stopping them from obtaining most credit for up to five years.

More and more of MyCRA’s clients have been through the ringer attempting to have black marks removed from their credit file due to identity theft. They are often unable to obtain even a mobile phone in their name if their credit file contains defaults and it need not be large-scale fraud to amount to a finance decline.

This survey follows the Government’s introduction of new legislation the ‘Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011’ into Parliament last week, which amends several current laws in order to comply with the only international treaty on cybercrime. This was an attempt to come up to speed with other countries in the fight to tackle an international wave of cyber-attacks.

Once an account remains unpaid past 60 days, the debt may be listed by the creditor as a default on a person’s credit file. Under current Australian legislation, defaults have to remain listed on the victim’s credit file for a 5 year period.

What is not widely known is how difficult credit repair can be – even if the individual has been the victim of identity theft. Unfortunately there is no guarantee defaults can be removed from their credit file. The victim has to provide copious amounts of documentary evidence to prove the fraud.

How does my credit file get affected?

It begins by fraudsters gaining access to a victim’s account details, or personal details. This then allows them to access the victim’s good credit rating.

Often the victim is unaware their information has been stolen until they apply for credit and are flatly refused. Generally, by the time police become involved, a client may have credit applications as a minimum and possibly defaults, mortgages and mobile phones already attributed to them incorrectly.

Once an account remains unpaid past 60 days, the debt may be listed by the creditor Australian legislation, defaults have to remain listed on the victim’s credit file for a 5 year period.

What is not widely known is how difficult credit repair can be – even if the individual has been the victim of identity theft. Unfortunately there is no guarantee defaults can be removed from their credit file. The onus is on the victim to prove their case and provide copious amounts of documentary evidence.

What can I do to prevent identity theft?

In order for people to prevent identity theft affecting their credit rating, the best defence they can take is to get educated. They should learn how their personal information can be put at risk, aiming to keep their personal information as secure as possible, both online and off. They should change passwords regularly, conduct regular virus software updates, and be wary of providing unnecessary information to companies online, just to name a few ways. As instances like the Sony PlayStation data breach shows, people relying on other companies to do it for them can often result in vulnerability to fraud.

People should also educate themselves on the latest scams that are going around, whilst also keeping an eye on what’s happening with their credit file, being alert to any changes which may occur.

People can contact one or more of the major credit reporting agencies, Veda Advantage, Dun and Bradstreet and Tasmanian Collection Services (TASCOL) to request a free copy of their credit file. With Veda Advantage, they can also for a fee, sign up to Veda’s Alert system, which notifies the credit file holder of any changes which occur to their account within a 12 month period.

If people find they are victims of identity theft, probably the best way to go about removing defaults is to enlist the help of a credit rating repairer, who can negotiate with creditors on their behalf, giving them the best possible chance of having the defaults removed completely from their credit file.

Contact MyCRA Credit Repairs for more details.

Image: Louisa Stokes/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

04/07/2011
Government brings in new laws in war against cyber-crime and identity theft

The Australian Government yesterday made some swift changes to its laws in a bid to accelerate its effectiveness in fighting the worldwide cyber-crime phenomenon.

The Attorney-General, Robert McLelland introduced the The Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 into the House of Representatives, which lays down the laws which will include Australia in what is the only binding international treaty on cybercrime.

Two criminal Acts (the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 and the Criminal Code Act 1995) and two telecommunications Acts (the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 and the Telecommunications Act 1997) will be amended, to allow Australia to comply with the treaty.

Australia will be joining the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, of which more than 40 nations have already signed or become a party to the Convention, including the USA, UK, Canada, Japan and South Africa.

The Convention allows countries to co-operate in investigations to deal with international crimes committed on computer networks, such as online fraud or child pornography offences.

The Bill will also give Australian police greater powers to force internet service providers to retain data of customers who are suspected to have committed a cybercrime while the matter is being investigated.

“The increasing cyber threat means that no nation alone can effectively overcome this problem and international cooperation is essential,” Mr McLelland says.

The speed of the changes follows a wave of recent cyber-attacks on networks around the globe.

“In the last six months alone, Australia’s Computer Emergency Response Team has alerted Australian business to more than a quarter of a million pieces of stolen information such as passwords and account details, allowing them to rectify and protect against potential attacks,” Mr McLelland says.

Other noteworthy cyber-attacks which have occurred just over the last few months include attacks on Sony, Dell Computers, the CIA, and the Australian Government.

What affect will these changes have on the frequency of identity theft in this country, and consequently the instances our credit rating is destroyed due to cyber-crime?

Some of the internet-generated identity theft is not initiated on Australian shores. The worldwide web provides easy international access, meaning elaborate schemes intended to commit fraud can be generated from any country and impact ordinary Australians.

Now that Australia is part of the international treaty, our police will have greater powers to access information which may assist in prosecutions or in detection of
cyber-crime that has come from other countries which are part of the Convention.

Nationally, the changes made to our Telecommunications laws should benefit in prosecution for identity theft, by allowing the Police to have access to phone and text messages that they previously were not required to be kept by Telcos.

The new laws also change a bit of the fine print in terms of what are computer offences, which could potentially ensure criminals who previously may not have been prosecuted due to loopholes in the legislation could now be brought to answer.

Unfortunately, when it comes to our credit rating, prevention is better than cure. When fraudsters use our good name to obtain credit, the bills which come with that credit that go undetected for greater than 60 days generate defaults on our credit file.

Hopefully this legislation helps to act as a deterrent for cyber-criminals to initiate fraud. But after fraud has occurred, a great deal of work will still need to be done by us on our credit file to clear our good name, regardless of prosecution.

What can we do to protect ourselves from identity theft right now?

The Government has a website ‘Stay Smart Online’, which goes through the things individuals can do to ensure they do not become part of these growing statistics.

The most important messages we should take in are:

* Keep our virus software up to date, and run regular scans. We should set it to automatic updates!
* Keep our personal information as private as possible.
* Think before we click on links and attachments.
* Talk about online safety, and educate ourselves and our family about the risks of
identity fraud.

If we protect our identity from cyber-criminals, we protect our good name and our financial future.

We should also make regular checks to our credit file. We are entitled to a free copy of our credit file every year. We should request this file every year to ensure our good name is not tarnished in any way.

For advice on identity theft and how it can impact our credit file, Contact MyCRA Credit Repairs. We can completely remove defaults from credit files.

Image: Tom Curtis/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: jscreationzs/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos

23/06/2011