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Tag: identity theft survey

  • Attorney-General’s survey shows identity theft is on mind of most Australians

    A national identity theft survey reveals that most of us are worried about identity theft, and the number of us who have been or know someone who has been a victim of identity theft has increased. We look at what the survey reveals, whether these fears are founded, and what we can do to alleviate them.

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

    The Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has published results of a nationwide survey into identity theft. The research released today was commissioned by the Attorney-General’s Department and repeats a similar id theft survey conducted in July 2011. The key findings include:

    • 89 per cent of respondents are concerned about identity theft and 61 per cent think identity theft will increase in the next year

    • 24 per cent of respondents had been, or knew someone who had been, a victim of identity crime in the last six months – an increase of seven per cent since 2011

    • When identify crime occurred, 58 per cent involved the internet, through either a virus or an online scam, 35 per cent involved the loss of a credit or debit card, 18 per cent involved mail theft and 9 per cent involved the theft or loss of physical identity documents such as a passport and drivers licence.

    The results of this research will inform the review of the National Identity Security Strategy currently being undertaken by the Department in conjunction with the States and Territories.

    Ms Roxon assured Australians there were solutions and preventative measures to combat the ongoing problem of identity crime, which is one of the top three enablers of serious and organised crime in Australia, and can have serious financial implications for business, governments and individuals.

    “While identity theft is understandably concerning, Australians can take some simple steps to protect their identity,” Ms Roxon said in a statement to the media.

    “Making sure you don’t respond to suspicious e-mail or store personal details on your mobile phone are two easy steps to prevent identity theft.”

    She also made mention of the Document Verification Service – currently a government agency service which allows key identity documents such as passports, driver licenses and birth certificates to be cross-checked between departments. The government will roll out the DVS to the private sector next year.

    “From next year, the financial and telecommunications sectors will be able to access the DVS to check Commonwealth identity documents, such as passports and visas – further helping the private sector to protect their customers’ identity,” she said.

    Should Australians be afraid of identity theft?

    From our point of view, the more you are educated about identity crime and how to prevent it – the less fear it sparks in your mind.

    Let’s look at a broader survey – the Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Fruad Survey. This surveyed a total of 1.2 million Australians over 2010-11 and was released in April this year.

    Whilst it was reported that Australians lost in total $1.4 billion due to personal fraud, the ABS puts the national vicitmisation rate for actual identity theft at 0.3% (a decrease from 0.8% in 2007).

    Perhaps there has been an increase in identity theft since the ABS survey was published, but what may likely have occured, is that people are talking about identity theft more. It could be that more people “know someone” who has been a victim of identity crime or personal fraud. Could we assume that more people are talking about their experiences, and hopefully reporting instances of fraud and identity crime?

    Without people reporting instances of identity theft, it is difficult to get ahead of fraudsters.

    It is a very real fact that full-blown identity theft – where someone steals your personal information and assumes your identity – can have very disastrous consequences. Identity fraud can involve crooks taking loans out in your name. This not only means you could be lumbered with random debt, but often you are unable to get any loan of your own for 5-7 years because your credit file is blacklisted when these debts fall into default.

    The message we want to send is that your personal information needs to be guarded well. If you safeguard your personal information as much as possible, you put yourself at less risk of identity theft.

    Educate yourself on the ways that fraudsters could misuse your personal information or your credit rating. Put as many preventative measures in place as you can (such as anti-virus software, paper shredder, safeguarding information, regular credit file checks) to ensure that you have the least possible chance of becoming a victim.

    And most importantly, stay up to date with scams that are out there. Identity crime and scams are changeable – what worked for fraudsters one week quickly becomes public knowledge, so they move on to something new. Getting on to something like StaySmartOnline’s Alert Service, or checking SCAMWatch regularly will go a long way to helping you to stay ahead of identity crime.

    And talk, talk, talk about what you know about identity theft, to help educate the community around you. Talk especially to young people who might not fully understand the consequences of giving away their personal information (and there are consequences even for under 18’s) and also talk to older people – who may be more vulnerable to these predators and could need help with education and updates to computer software.

    If you or someone you know have been a victim of identity crime which has impacted your credit rating, all may not be lost. We may be able to help you recover your good name. Contact a Credit Repair Advisor on 1300 667 218 to discuss your suitability for removing bad credit, or visit our main website for more information www.mycra.com.au.

    Image: Salvatore Vuono/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image 2: phanlop88/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Australia’s identity theft prevention improving

    It seems the nation has ramped up its focus on identity theft. We are more fearful of this crime than we are of a terrorist attack, and this is due in part to recent global data breaches which have directly affected the security of Australians. It is also due to the long lasting effects of identity theft and the difficulties that can ensue with our credit rating.

    Improvements occurred to our national strategy on identity theft this week, with the Attorney-General, Robert McLelland announcing two more states have signed on to the Government’s national Document Verification Service (DVS). This service allows authorised government agencies to cross-check identity documents to prevent identity theft or fraud.

    Identity theft occurs when someone uses our personal details without our knowledge for the purposes of fraud. It is occurring more readily than ever with the mass use of technologies such as the internet, social networking, i-phones and credit cards.

    Nowadays we conduct so much of our financial and personal business online and via our phones. When we shop online – we give over passwords, personal details and credit card details. When we want to catch up with someone, we do it via Facebook or Twitter – giving over details like where we are, who we’re with, when we are away from home.

    The reason we do all of this is because it is so darn convenient and fun. Our relationships can change, improve. Sometimes jumping online to pay our bills or pick up some birthday presents can be the only way we have time to get those things done nowadays.

    Unfortunately, it is also a convenient way fraudsters can extract details which may be used in order to set up fake identification in our name. Criminals may only need a small amount of very precise information about us to go about requesting ‘replacement’ copies of our documentation, or to create a fake document that can all be used to obtain credit in our name.

    Apart from the initial monies which may be lost due to fraud, the major consequence of identity theft is the destruction of our credit rating. A bad credit rating means most people are black listed from obtaining mortgages, personal loans, credit cards and even mobile phone plans for the term of the listing which is 5-7 years. Any way the Government can improve its system to protect people from this kind of fraud should be well received.

    This week, Victoria and Western Australia joined the rest of Australia in using the DVS, which Mr McLelland says will allow documents commonly used as proof of identity to be quickly checked electronically by the issuing agency.

    “For example, if you are using your Australian Passport as proof of identity to apply for a copy of a NSW Driver License, the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority will now be able to instantly verify the authenticity of the passport with the Australian Passport Office.  This ensures that documents haven’t been cancelled or personal information falsified.” Mr McLelland says.

    He says the purpose of the DVS is purely to allow authorities to verify document authenticity, and no information will be retained on any central database.

    “A number of State and Territory and Commonwealth Government agencies are already using the system. It’s already possible to verify the validity of Australian-issued passports, visas, and birth certificates and driver licenses from other States and Territories through the DVS,” he says.

    However, according to a recent article by CRN Magazine’s Liz Tay, an audit conducted last year by the Australian National Audit Office found the $28.3 million service had “significant problems” and was rarely used.

    “Auditors reported that the DVS performed less than ten transactions a day – well under initially expectations of one million a day – and was weighed down by issues with timeliness and accuracy,” the article says.

    This comes as the Government released results from an identity theft survey last week which showed 1 in 6 Australians have been or know someone who has been a victim of identity theft or misuse in the past 6 months.

    Let’s hope the government takes the necessary steps to improve its system to ensure it is genuinely going to make progress in the fight against this ever-growing war on identity crime.

    Suspect identity theft? Visit the MyCRA Credit Repairs website for help with what to do and how to repair your credit rating following identity theft.

    Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net