MyCRA Specialist Credit Repair Lawyers

Tag: Identity Theft

  • Identities at risk in the Australia Post system

    Identity theftIn the news this week it was revealed that Australia Post customers have been exposed to identity theft. On Monday a Sydney Postal Centre worker was found guilty on four charges of mail theft. The worker was caught stealing credit cards and other sensitive information for criminal contacts. Investigators are unable to say how many people’s confidential details had been compromised, having only recovered four letters. We feature this story in full from news.com.au, and look deeper at identity theft, what criminals have to gain from it, and how you and your credit file may be at risk.

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

    An Australian Government survey on identity theft, released in June 2011 by then Attorney-General Robert McLelland, revealed 1 in 6 Australians have been a victim or know someone who has been a victim of identity theft. Identity theft can happen to anyone, and it seems even if you have no Facebook account, only a minimal online presence, answer no scam phone calls and don’t unnecessarily reveal your personal information, you can still be at risk, just by your mail being compromised.

    This recent news story illustrates how easily this can occur:

    Australia Post customers at risk of identity theft after sorter stole credit cards for criminal contacts

    AUSTRALIA Post customers have been left exposed to potential scams and identity theft after a worker at a Sydney postal centre was caught stealing credit cards and other sensitive information for criminal contacts.

    Investigators are unable to say how many people’s confidential details disgraced night sorter Morris John Lilio compromised, with only four letters he lifted recovered.

    The 60-year-old had been working at the Waterloo facility since 2008 when he was nabbed on camera sneaking out eastern suburbs residents’ mail in August.

    CCTV footage of his early-morning shifts revealed him repeatedly looking around the facility before slipping mail into his jacket sleeves and leaving the building for his morning break.

    On the day he was arrested police seized several letters – one of which had a credit card inside it – all addressed to one Woollahra household hidden in a Gregory’s street directory inside a colleague’s parked car.

    Detectives also found a series of text messages on Lilio’s two mobile phones, including some from earlier in the morning when officers swooped on the thief.

    “If you ever want the guy’s signature he can get that also,” one message said, listing a man’s birthdate and phone number. “He said if he could get two really good GE (Money) or GO. Also can you please look out for tax return cheques.”

    In an earlier message Lilio wrote: “That’s all I could get this morning. 2 and u got both. But send one of girls 2 pick up.”

    “No good, reported stolen,” he was messaged back.

    Lilio told police that people had asked him to do “things I don’t want to do” after he got involved with drugs, but he denied acting on their demands for stolen mail.

    He later claimed in court that any letters seen in his jacket got there by mistake when he was putting it on for his break. But in Central Local Court last week, magistrate Mark Buscombe said Lilio’s explanation that letters had repeatedly got stuck in his clothes accidentally was “fanciful”.

    He found Lilio guilty on four charges of mail theft, adding the former Australia Post worker had told police a series of lies and the text messages clearly showed he had been stealing mail for others based on the details they sent him.

    Police admitted the bulk of the mail Lilio stole was never found and it was not known who he had passed the confidential material to.

    Australia Post spokeswoman Melanie Ward said the organisation had a “zero-tolerance” to mail-security breaches and any workers implicated were immediately sacked, although she would not say what screening processes Australia Post had in place for its staff.

    Lilio is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

    Organised crime and Identity theft

    The typical identity theft victim is an ordinary person, who just happens to have fallen prey to the vast criminal network which exists on the internet or elsewhere.

    A leading commentator on technology issues, Stilgherrian warned people of the intricacies of identity theft in the modern age in his article ‘The real cyber criminals are no lolling matter’:

    “First, these crimes are committed on a vast scale. Criminal processes are orchestrated globally, automated, and supported by thousands of unwitting, disposable minions. If only a tiny percentage of people fall for scams, we’re still talking millions of dollars.

    Second, the bad guys are good at this. Really good. Blaming the victims is inappropriate. “They had it coming to them”? Really? Third, it all connects up. Fifty bucks went missing from your credit card precisely because the number had been stolen from a poorly-secured online store. The legitimate website popped up the message from the fake anti-virus product because it, too, was poorly secured and had been hacked automatically by software that probed a hundred thousand websites one night.

    Or, in the case of identity theft, when someone takes out $50,000 of loans in your name? That happens through the gradual accumulation of personal data. Your name and email address from a list stolen from a hacked website, cross-matched with your street address from another, your date of birth from a third, and so on.

    These databases can contain millions of people’s details. They’re traded in shady online markets where people buy the pieces missing from the databases they already have, merge them, refine them, mark ‘em up and sell ‘em on until eventually there’s enough to turn it all into a credit application. It’s then laundered though “money mules”, people recruited in the belief they’re making money at home with just a computer.”

    The story of this vast, global ecology of crime is both fascinating and real. So why isn’t it told?

    Well, it’s a hard story to tell. Everything’s new and different. Imagine trying to tell the story a bank hold-up if you had to first explain all the pieces as if they were brand new. Bank. Money. Gun, Trigger. Balaclava, “OK, everybody lie down on the floor and keep calm.” Getaway car.

    Global organised crime is a complex octopus. By the time you’ve explained the first sucker at the end of tentacle number one you’re up to the next ad break and everyone’s lost attention.

    The Australian Crime Commission’s CEO, John Lawler revealed at a national conference for credit professionals in September that identity crime is a “key facilitator” for organised crime groups because it is an anonymous crime which can enable significant fraud.

    “Every single person in this room and the various sectors and organisations that you represent are targets for organised crime,” he told the Conference.

    “Criminals will exploit technology to not only carry out new crimes but commit traditional crimes on a much larger scale.”

    The ACC estimates organised crime is currently costing the Australian economy at least $15 billion per annum – and that the impacts of this are significant and growing.

    Mr Lawler says the amount of personal information requested and stored online, along with the growing popularity of social networking sites, provides organised crime with a larger pool of victims and data to harvest.

     “Organised criminals seek to conduct significant research on their intended victims and tailoring their operations to target weaknesses,” he says.

    So whilst this Aussie postal worker has been caught out and that is indeed terrible – we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Look at the machine he was feeding this information to. That’s the big issue. The real problem here. They can probably find many people like him to do what he did. There are probably many people willing to go through somebody’s rubbish bin for a few bucks, to steal mail out of letterboxes, to make some shady phone calls to get personal information, even to write up computer programs and online scams to trick people. Some of these fraudsters probably have no idea that they are potentially contributing to not just theft, but in the wrong hands full-blown identity theft at some point – where not only money is stolen, but credit and therefore a person’s good credit rating.

    A life turned upside down

    Recovering from identity fraud is never an easy task – and it can be fraud to the tune of a mere $300 which is as devastating to a victim’s ability to obtain credit in the future, as fraud of $300,000.  Creditors need proof the victim didn’t initiate the credit. But many people don’t know how the fraud eventuated, and even if they do there’s no guarantee they can recover their good credit rating – meaning they can be locked out of credit for the duration of the credit listing, which in the case of a default, is 5 years. Not to mention if there is a hefty debt to pay they are not responsible for.

    Early intervention is critical

    If you have ever had any type of scam or crime committed against you, the message is – be wary of what the real ramifications of that fraud could be, and take action to protect your credit file as well as your finances. Check your bank and credit card statements thoroughly – any suspect signs could mean you are at risk of identity theft. You should also order a copy of your credit report – which would indicate if your credit file has been misused or attempts have been made to obtain credit in your name.

    Contact Police immediately and also alert your Creditors and the Credit Reporting Agencies which hold your credit file if you are at all suspicious of identity theft before it leads to fraud.

    Image: nuttakit/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • W.A. real estate agent criticises measures to combat property scams

    W.A. property scamsLast year it was revealed that some properties in Western Australia had been sold out from under their overseas owners by fraudsters. Consumers, government and agents were so horrified they acted quickly to introduce new laws to protect the identity of property owners and prevent any more cases of property scams in the state. But the new identity requirements to combat the property scams have come under fire from a Perth real estate agent, who says the storage of personal data could be opening up further potential for identity theft. We look at the criticism from the Perth agent, and what we might be able to expect in the future in every state in terms of identity identification and the protection of both mortgage and the clear credit file of property owners across the country.

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

    In W.A. today late last week, RE/MAX WA Managing Director, Geoff Baldwin came out in criticism of the State’s identification check legislation instigated following Perth’s property scams.

    He called the legislation “a debacle, unnecessarily inconveniencing sellers and causing confusion and in some cases anger,” he was quoted in W.A. Today.

    He said the Code of Conduct required “due skill, care and diligence” to properly identify sellers before a sale goes through, and that this meant that during a 100-point identification check, real estate agents were keeping personal documents in order to demonstrate the fulfilment of this requirement.

    “It upsets a lot of sellers who, in these days of identity theft, rightfully feel uncomfortable with having copies of their passports, licences, etc sitting in manila folders in offices across Perth which is now the requirement for agents to comply with their yearly audits,” he said.

    “There is no argument that an ID system is required to make it as hard as possible for fraudsters to succeed but the current misinformation, doubling up, copying and storing of peoples personal information in agents’ offices is madness and has the capacity to replace one security problem with another.

    Mr Baldwin suggested an alternative method of identification which he hoped would be more secure for sellers.

    “The government needs to act now to refine the one system whereby prospective sellers attend the post office once, provides the required identification which is registered online as having been cleared,” he said.

    “This ID clearance should be associated with the particular property and the secure database should be accessible using a PIN, to agents, brokers, and settlement agents for their clients only.

    But his suggestions were rebuffed by director of property industries at Consumer Protection, Stephen Meagher.

    “The public are asked to provide ID when opening bank accounts, phone accounts etc and accept that to protect their interests in property that ID checks are required when selling their home.

    “Sellers may not always be within easy reach of an Australia Post outlet – either remote in Australia or overseas. “There would be fee for service implications in the Australia Post proposal.”

    WA Property Scams explained.

    In 2010, Wembley Downs retiree Roger Mildenhall had his Karrinyup investment property sold without knowing anything about it. And in 2012 Nigerian-based scammers sold a Ballajura property without the owners’ knowledge.

    “A couple returning from overseas have advised authorities that their property has been sold without their knowledge or consent and a joint investigation has been launched.

    The previous owners were living and working overseas at the time and didn’t discover the property had been sold until they recently returned to Perth to inspect the property.

    The real estate agent involved has told investigators that he received a phone call from a man claiming to be the owner in February this year inquiring about the property. Shortly after, the agent received an urgent request to sell the property as funds were needed for a business investment, later revealed to be a supposed petro-chemical project,” Landgate announced in a statement.

    With the scale of the scam, it is understandable that Government and Agent groups would have acted swiftly to try to combat any further instances of fraud. But Baldwin probably has a legitimate argument when we look at the methods that have been taken to combat it – considering how valuable personal information has become. He, like many others, have reservations regarding the amount of personal information which must be stored by different entities, and the likelihood that that personal information could fall into the wrong hands – like an identity thief’s. It is ironic that the protections we have instigated to combat identity theft seem to put us at greater risk of it. We’re damned if we do, and we’re damned if we don’t.

    Perhaps the answer is some kind of centrally stored database for identity checks – or maybe the old-fashioned paper storage is safer in this age of rising cyber-crime.

    Personal information and your credit file

    Fraudsters now see personal information as a valuable commodity. Many are able to use that information to take out credit in the victim’s name. Often the victim is not alerted to the misuse of their credit file for some time, often not until they attempt to obtain credit themselves. By then, victims may have credit applications as a minimum and possibly defaults, mortgages and mobile phones attributed to them incorrectly.

    Once any 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 remain listed on the victim’s credit file for a 5 year period.

    If a victim has defaults on their credit file following identity theft – the defaults still remain there for 5 years. The onus is then on the identity theft victim to prove to creditors they didn’t initiate the debts in their name. If they are unable to prove this, they are virtually blacklisted from obtaining further credit themselves for 5 years.

    It is important for everyone to think twice about who they allow to have access to their personal information, and to verify all transactions are legitimate before handing over their details or any money.

    For more information on identity theft and your credit file, visit the MyCRA website www.mycra.com.au.

    Image: digitalart/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

  • Rising menace of extreme identity theft looms

    Identity theftTechnology law expert Profressor Faye Jones and University of South Australia law lecturer Dr Clare Sullivan warn that the rising menace of extreme identity theft looms large. In a UniSA law seminar ‘Extreme identity theft: an international challenge’ they spoke about the ongoing threat of identity theft. We look at their release to the media on this fascinating topic. They implore people to understand how valuable their personal information is, and to guard it accordingly. No one wants to end up a victim of identity theft, and have their credit file misused.

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

    Unmasking the threat of identity theft

    …Dr Sullivan, an expert on digital identity, highlights an example in the US of a teacher who, upon discovering she had a bad credit rating, unravelled a 10 year long trail of deception in which a person had forged her identity, bought a house and gained employment – using her details.

     The anonymity attached to online behaviour and the amount of personal data that is readily available online has made it easier for false digital identities to be created or assumed, says Dr Sullivan. 

     “Years ago in Melbourne there was an identity thief who would use the names and dates of births on peoples’ tombstones to apply for birth certificates. With that, they would open a bank account, apply for employment registration cards and then passports.

     “These days that information is even more readily available. A full name, date of birth, gender and one other piece of identification, most often a signature or a PIN number, are sometimes all that is needed to steal a person’s identity.”

     “Most often people do this for reasons of fraud and their victims may not know what has happened until weeks or months later. The victim is on the back foot and they have to prove that they are who they say they are and that is not necessarily easy.”

     As to possible remedies, the suggestions of keeping Government compiled databases on individuals’ identities would have huge privacy and security implications.

     “Once you start putting those things into just one big database, well no database is secure,” Dr Sullivan says.

     “This was an issue for the UK and their identity scheme. In a way it’s more vulnerable – it’s like putting all the crown jewels in just one cupboard.

     “Technological innovations, including those which use biometrics – fingerprints, face scans and iris scans have error rates. Sometimes the error rate is low but they do exist. TV shows like CSI give a public perception that biometrics are infallible but they are not.”

     “The best advice is to recognise just how valuable your personal information is, try not to collect all your details together in one place and also try to build personal relations with people in organisations, like a bank for example, who will recognise you, who could verify your identity.”

     The absence of personal contact in the modern world is one of the reasons why identify theft is easier to facilitate says Dr Sullivan, and the assumption of a person’s identity is an issue not just confined to electronic fraud.

    In an echo of the Leonardo DiCaprio film Catch Me If You Can, which charted the life of a young con artist, in January a teenager who had impersonated doctors in hospitals in Adelaide was arrested and charged with identity theft.

    Pretty scary stuff. What’s worse is the identity theft victim then needs to prove to Creditors they didn’t initiate the credit in their name in order to have the offending defaults removed from their credit file. This is not always an easy thing to do with very few consumers knowing what to say to get the right information they need to prove their case and often the identity theft taking place long before the victim finds out about it.

    According to a survey in the U.S. by Javelin Strategy and Research, incidents of identity fraud in the United States are at their highest in three years. Incidents of identity fraud affected 5.26 percent of U.S. adults last year. That’s up from 4.9 percent in 2011 and 4.35 percent in 2010. The company put the total number of identity victims in 2012 at 12.6 million.

    In Australia, it is evident we are not immune and it is important to stay vigilant. Here are some simple steps you can take NOW to improve your chances of avoiding identity theft.

    What You Can Do 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, rather than throwing it straight in the  bin.

    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 your 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 government’s ‘SCAM watch’ website.

    10. Check your credit file for free every 12 months. By requesting a copy of your credit file from one or more of the major credit reporting agencies, Veda Advantage, Dun & Bradstreet and Tasmanian Collection Service (TASCOL) you can be aware of any discrepancies which may need to be investigated. Often it is only through a credit check which comes back with defaults on our credit file do we realise we have been victims of identity theft.

    11. Report any incident of identity theft, no matter how small, or even if you have been reimbursed for the damage – to the Police. The more of us that report identity theft, the more effective will be our Government and Police response to it.

    Image: Chris Sharp/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

     

  • Don’t launch a cyber-assault on Australian businesses – just look in their rubbish bins.

    [fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”true” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_sizes_top=”” border_sizes_bottom=”” border_sizes_left=”” border_sizes_right=”” first=”true”][fusion_text]

    dumpster divingMedia Release

    Don’t launch a cyber-assault on Australian businesses – just look in their rubbish bins.

    21 February 2013

    The identities of thousands of Australian consumers could be at risk every day through simply having their personal information dumped into the rubbish bins of Australian businesses, and a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting says this practice is an appalling oversight when personal information has become so valuable to fraudsters.

    The National Association of Information Destruction (NAID-ANZ), which is the peak body for the secure destruction industry, recently hired a detective agency to find out what customer information was being thrown away unsecured in business rubbish bins.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”default” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” flex_grow=”0″ top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” width=”” alignment=”center” border_size=”” sep_color=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_color=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” type=”flex”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” 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” align_self=”flex-start” border_sizes_undefined=”” first=”true” last=”true” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all”][fusion_text][i]

    The investigator went through the contents of publicly accessible waste bins used by 80 Sydney businesses that have an established responsibility to client data, with the aim of discovering the relative percentage of confidential waste that might be available on a given day.

    They found 11 per cent of those businesses contained crucial personal information readily accessible to passers-by and identity thieves.

    “Some sectors did better than others,” said NAID CEO Robert Johnson. “For instance, of the nine randomly sampled trash bins serving government offices, no confidential information was found. On the other hand, bank branches fared less well with 40 percent found to be casually discarding confidential financial information.”

    The study involved someone ‘casually’ looking at a bin, rather than dissecting it in an overly-thorough manner.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says “dumpster diving”– a practice of looking through rubbish bins for personally identifiable information is well used amongst fraudsters – and unlike many other forms of attempted identity theft, can be easily prevented through careful destruction of personal information.

    “It is best practice in my organisation and I am sure in many others, to cross-shred every piece of personal information that is no longer required. If it is good enough for small business, it should be good enough for bigger business such as banks to properly dispose of this information,” he says.

    On Monday new Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus QC warned that Australian businesses were increasingly being targeted for cyber-assaults.

    “Cyber attacks have shifted from being indiscriminate and random to being more coordinated and targeted for financial gain. Most attacks occur from outside the business, although it appears internal risks are also significant,” Mr Dreyfus said.[ii]

    Mr Doessel says whilst cyber crime is becoming increasingly prevalent, basic data destruction is still a pressing topic.

    “We can’t forget about educating Australian businesses on data destruction and this simple way they can prevent their clients’ personal information from being stolen by identity thieves,” he says.

    He says consumers should feel unnerved that it was so easy for the investigators to come across personal information in rubbish bins.

    “Pieces of personal information are basically the building blocks of identity theft. Crucial details such as full names, addresses and dates of birth can all be used to build a profile on the victim which can then be used to assume their identity and even take out credit in their name. Often victims don’t know about it right away – and that’s where their credit file can be compromised,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says once the victim’s credit rating is damaged due to defaults from this ‘stolen’ credit, they are facing some difficult times repairing their credit rating in order to get their life back on track.

    “These victims often can’t even get a mobile phone in their name. It need not be large-scale fraud to be a massive detriment to their financial future – defaults for as little as $100 will stop someone from getting a home loan for the five year term,” he says.

    He says what is not widely known is how difficult credit repair can be – even if the individual has been the victim of identity theft.

    “There is no certainty that defaults can be removed from a victim’s credit file. The onus is on them to prove their case and provide copious amounts of documentary evidence,” he says.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Graham Doessel – CEO pH 3124 7133

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog

    MyCRA Credit Repair 246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/brokers-trump-banks-in-protecting-client-info-148810.aspx

    [ii] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2013/First%20quarter/18February2013-CyberattacksonAustralianbusinessmoretargetedandcoordinated.aspx

    Image: Naypong/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Threat of identity theft looms as business cyber-assaults take new form.

    cyber-assaultMedia Release

    Threat of identity theft looms as business cyber-assaults take new form.

    20 February 2013

    The ramping up of efforts by fraudsters to go after Australian businesses holding personal information could contribute to a greater risk of identity theft and subsequent credit fraud for Australian consumers, warns a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting.

    Yesterday new Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus QC advised that recent national survey results for more than 250 major businesses show cyber-crime is becoming increasingly targeted and coordinated, with one in five businesses experiencing one in the last year.

    Mr Dreyfus said that cyber assaults have shifted from being indiscriminate and random to being more coordinated and targeted for financial gain. Most occur from outside the business, although it appears internal risks are also significant.[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”][i]

    The 2012 Cyber Crime and Security Survey Report commissioned by CERT Australia and conducted by the Centre for Internet Safety at the University of Canberra revealed that most serious assaults involved the use of malicious software, theft or breach of private information and denial-of-service.

    In one case, an organisation reported the theft of 15 years’ worth of critical business data.

    A third of instances involved the theft of notebooks, tablets or mobile devices.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says Australians should feel concerned about where their personal information could be exposed to potential company data breaches, as personal information has become a valuable commodity used to commit identity theft and potentially ruin the victim’s credit rating and their financial future.

    “We can’t take lightly the possibility that any company that keeps data on its customers could be at risk of cyber-crime. Identity theft is becoming more prevalent, and personal information is lucrative for fraudsters,” Mr Doessel says.

    Last week the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced the identities of four tax agents were stolen and used to fraudulently obtain AUSkeys giving access to specialist tax agent online services.

    Whilst the ATO was able to contain the threat, and cancel the AUSkeys, it said in a statement to the media that doing business online has benefits, but also comes with risks.

    “People looking to commit identity fraud constantly look for ways to profit so it is critical to remain vigilant regarding your personal information and online security,” the ATO statement said.[ii]

    Mr Doessel says this instance is one of a long line of assaults on Australian businesses and government entities in recent years.

    “Unfortunately it seems everywhere people turn one entity or another has been hacked – and it seems everyone with a computer is at risk. It is still extremely scary the level of risk peoples’ personal information undergoes these days when it is stored online,” he says.

    Personal information in the wrong hands can lead not only to identity theft but credit fraud, which involves the use of the victim’s credit rating, which can have significant long term consequences.

    “Basically, a lot of identity fraud is committed by piecing together enough personal information from different sources in order for criminals to take out credit in the victim’s name. Often victims don’t know about it right away – and that’s where their credit file can be compromised,” he says.

    He says once the victim’s credit rating is damaged due to defaults from this ‘stolen’ credit, they are facing some difficult times repairing their credit rating in order to get their life back on track.

    “These victims often can’t even get a mobile phone in their name. It need not be large-scale fraud to be a massive detriment to their financial future – defaults for as little as $100 will stop someone from getting a home loan,” he says.

    Once an unpaid account goes to default stage, the account may be listed by the creditor as a default on a person’s credit file. Under current legislation, defaults remain on the credit file for a 5 year period.

    “What is not widely known is how difficult restoring a credit file can be – even if the individual has been the victim of identity theft, there is no assurance the 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,” he says.

    Changes to the Privacy Act 1988 should help consumers collectively when businesses experience cyber-crime which leads to a data breach.[iii]

    From March 2014, increased powers of the Privacy Commissioner will force organisations that experience a breach to do something about it. Previously, the Commissioner could investigate and make recommendations as to what the organisation should do, but it had no way of requiring the organisation to take action.

    The Commissioner can also issue civil penalties to organisations that experience a breach and either fail to take reasonable steps to protect the information entrusted to them, or fail to adequately respond.

    Mr Doessel says consumers need to be insisting that the companies who hold their personal information have adequate tools to prevent a data breach, but he says despite this, the changing nature of cyber-crime means it can be difficult to keep up with the technology of fraudsters.

    “Despite our best efforts to keep our details safe, we don’t have control over the IT systems of the company which holds our information, so we have to place a lot of trust in them to stay one step ahead of fraudsters. With most organised crime gangs now placing identity theft on their repertoire, more damaging and more frequent assaults are probably imminent in the future,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says as a matter of routine, consumers should check their bank and credit card statements thoroughly when they come in, and should also order a copy of their credit report regularly – which would indicate if their credit file had been misused.

    Under current legislation a credit file report can be obtained at no cost every 12 months from the major credit reporting agencies Veda Advantage, Dun and Bradstreet and TASCOL (if in Tasmania) and is sent to the owner of the credit file within 10 working days.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Graham Doessel – Director Ph 3124 7133

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog

    MyCRA Credit Repair 246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2013/First%20quarter/18February2013-CyberattacksonAustralianbusinessmoretargetedandcoordinated.aspx

    [ii] http://www.ato.gov.au/corporate/content.aspx?doc=/content/00345567.htm

    [iii] http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-portal/resources_privacy/Privacy_law_reform.html#whats_changed

    Image: Victor Habbick/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Lonely hearts ripped out and ripped off this Valentine’s Day by scams.

    romance scamsMedia Release

    Lonely hearts ripped out and ripped off this Valentine’s Day by scams.

    7 February 2013

    A warning this Valentine’s Day for those who use internet dating: be on the lookout for scammers. A consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting warns that getting sucked in by a scammer may not only leave you broken hearted, but can also leave you broke.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel warns that because of the personal nature of dating scams, many intimate personal details may be shared, and scammers could not only extract money, but can also garner enough information to steal your identity and take credit out in your name.

    “The costs of identity theft can be significant long term and are magnified by the fact that identity fraud is often not detected until you attempt to take out credit in your own name and are refused due to credit rating defaults from unpaid credit you didn’t initiate,” Mr Doessel says.

    The NSW Fair Trading Commission has issued fresh warnings recently in regards to romance scams, saying consumers are at risk of high debt and dissatisfaction.

    Commissioner Rod Stowe warns if you are looking for love -get introduction agency agreements in writing and beware of predators online and elsewhere.

    “Repeated requests for more money are standard practice for traditional and online romance scammers, whether the requests come from an agency or prospective partners,” he said in a recent media release.[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”][i]

    “Once you’re on the hook, a scammer will reel you in as long as you take the bait. The internet presents a whole range of risks for consumers looking for love. The ACCC [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission] reported Australians lost $21 million to dating and romance scams in 2011. The average loss for a victim reporting a scam to the ACCC was more than $20,000.”

    Romance scams are so rampant in Australia, that the ACCC now requires online dating sites to display scam warnings and will threaten action against companies that fail to comply.

    Scammers target victims by creating fake profiles on legitimate internet dating services.

    The ACCC warns once you are in contact with a scammer, they will express strong emotions in a relatively short period of time and will suggest you move the relationship away from the website, to phone, email and/or instant messaging. Scammers often claim to be from Australia, but travelling or working o/s.

    “They will go to great lengths to gain your interest and trust, such as sharing personal information and even sending you gifts. Scammers may take months, to build what seems like the romance of a lifetime. They will then ask you for money, gifts or your banking/credit card details.” the ACCC warns on their website.[ii]

    The ACCC says scammers can site various reasons for needing money, including to cover the costs associated with non-existent accidents and illnesses, various fees and charges associated with precious goods such as diamonds, gold bullion and gemstones, or to arrange a meeting which never occurs.

    Mr Doessel says it is not always easy to forget a romance scam if the fraud has impacted your credit file.

    “If you fall victim to identity theft, you are hit three times – you may have lost a large sum of money, secondly you may be emotionally heartbroken, then thirdly you are locked out of credit for 5 years because of defaults on your credit file.”

    “You may not even get a mobile phone plan if you can’t prove you didn’t initiate the credit in your name,” he says.

    The ACCC’s SCAMwatch outlines some ways people can protect themselves when dating online:

    – ALWAYS consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam…Try to remove the emotion from your decision making no matter how caring or persistent they seem.

    – Talk to an independent friend, relative or fair trading before you send any money. THINK TWICE before sending money to someone you have only recently met online or haven’t met in person.

    – NEVER give credit card or online account details to anyone by email.

    – Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social network sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.

    – If you agree to meet in person, tell family and friends where you are going…

    – Where possible, avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer or international funds transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way.

    -If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

    – Money laundering is a criminal offence: do not agree to transfer money for someone else.

    If you think you may be ‘dating’ a scammer, contact the ACCC on 1300 795 995 and if you have given over money, contact Police immediately.

    MyCRA Credit Rating Repair’s website also contains information on identity theft and your credit rating www.mycra.com.au.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Graham Doessel – Ph 3124 7133

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    http://www.mycra.com.au/ 246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD.

    Ph: 07 3124 7133

    MyCRA Credit Repair is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us/News_and_events/Media_releases/2013_media_releases/20130131_valentines_day_warning.html

    [ii] http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/694213

    Image: thanunkorn/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Safer Internet Day: Protect your child’s identity online

    Safer Internet DayMedia Release

    Safer Internet Day: Protect your child’s identity online

    5 February 2013

    On Safer Internet Day, parents and carers need to know their kids may be risking their identity and future credit rating by posting volumes of personal information to open forums and other sites, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting warns.

    “The harsh reality is if you’re a young person in Australia today you are not immune to identity fraud. Even though you are not yet credit active the personal information you make public today could be used against you in the future,” CEO of MyCRA Credit Repair, Graham Doessel says.

    ‘Cybersmart’ hosts Safer Internet Day today, with this year’s theme being ‘Connect with Respect’, encouraging people to think about their ‘Online Rights and Responsibilities’.[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”][i]

    More than 22,000 students are participating today in Cybersmart’s online safety presentations, 1500 kids are playing Cybersmart Challenge games and Cybersmart is also broadcasting live and online all over the world from 5pm-8pm tonight.

    The website educates young people, their teachers and carers about how to stay safe and stay smart online, touching on issues like cyber-bullying, online predators, and identity theft with an emphasis on understanding the potential consequences of online behaviour.

    Mr Doessel says identity theft is still a risk for under 18’s, and many young people and their parents don’t know the dangers of having a public ‘profile’ on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

    “A public profile is a big risk for anyone at any age. With the volume of personal information contained there, fraudsters can use that information to create an identity in your name, and even take out credit,” he says.

    In late 2011, Identity expert Ben McQuillan of the Australian Federal Police warned people about the new trend of ‘warehousing’ which involves storing data for a time, making it harder for a victim or bank to trace where and when the data was stolen.

    ”If people know your full name, your date of birth, where you went to school and other lifestyle issues, and they were to warehouse that data, there is a prospect that could then be used to take out loans or credit cards or to create a bank account that could then be used to launder money,” McQuillan told the Sydney Morning Herald.[ii]

    This warning was echoed by Queensland Fraud Squad’s Superintendant Brian Hay, who warned that criminals were targeting the personal information of our young Facebook users.

    Supt Hay said criminals had been known to be storing the personal information of children around the world in databases to be used when they turn 18 and are able to take out credit.

    “We know that the crooks have been data warehousing identity information, we know that they’ve been building search engines to profile and build identities,” he told Channel 7’s Sunrise program in October 2011.[iii]

    “We need to tell our children if you surrender your soul, if you surrender your identity to the internet it could come back to bite you in a very savage way years down the track,” he said.

    Mr Doessel says identity theft is not only about the initial loss of monies, but if the fraud amounts to credit accounts in the young victim’s name going undetected and unpaid past 60 days, creditors will issue defaults.

    “It need not be major fraud to have a detrimental effect. Credit file defaults for as little as $100 can stop someone from being able to obtain credit for 5 years. So any damage, however small to someone’s credit file can be extremely significant,” he says.

    He says the onus is on the victim to prove to creditors they didn’t initiate the credit.

    “The fact that the perpetrator is long gone and the actual act of identity theft happened years earlier will only add to the difficulty for the young person in recovering their good name,” he says.

    Experts recommend parents and young people continue to update their skills on how to be cyber-smart.

    identity theft risk for under 18'sMr Doessel says parents and young people should remember 5 Key Tips for Safeguarding Personal Information:

    1. Keep privacy settings private. Your profile on sites like Facebook should be kept Private, and it’s a good idea to check your settings from time to time to make sure it stays that way. This makes it harder for crooks to find your personal information.

    2. Use passwords. Use strong passwords online, regularly changing them. You should also do the same for your smartphone. Stay one step ahead of hackers.

    3. What you post may be permanent. Every piece of information you post – no matter how secure you think it may be – may show up again one day.

    4. Your personal information should be guarded at all times. Personal information is the gateway to identity theft. How secure is the site you are using? Think – if it’s not necessary – do you really need to give it out or post it?

    5. Careful who you ‘friend’. Crooks can scan the internet requesting ‘friendships’ on sites like Facebook – but they may not be after friendship but your personal information. If you don’t know the person who is sending you the friend request, check their profile – do they seem like a real person? Ask -why do they want to be my friend? If you’re unsure, ignore the request.

    The cybersmart website http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/ has a range of multimedia educational resources.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Graham Doessel – CEO MyCRA PH 3124 7133

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    http://www.mycra.com.au/ 246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD.

    Ph: 07 3124 7133

    MyCRA Credit Repair is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_600164

    [ii] http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/police-warn-of-sophisticated-plan-to-steal-identities-20111108-1n5l8.html#ixzz1dB4ctHcT

    [iii] http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/26825601/child-identity-theft/

    Image: Clare Bloomfield/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image 2: David Castillo Dominici/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Flood evacuation: Prepare early and secure your important documents from fraudsters.

    flood evacuationMedia Release

    Flood evacuation: Prepare early and secure your important documents from fraudsters.

    29 January 2013

    With residents continuing to evacuate flooded homes across Queensland and Northern New South Wales, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning Australians that their important papers need to be ready to leave with them should they be forced to evacuate their homes, in order to prevent both loss and theft of identity.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says if people need to leave their homes, it is important that their emergency kit contains their important identity documents.

    “If you’re preparing your emergency kit, along with your essentials, you should be adding in your essential identity documents as well as insurance documents, and locking any other personally identitifiable documents in a safe if possible,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says disasters in the recent past were further plagued by scammers and identity thieves hoping to make a quick buck from the misfortune of others.

    “In the days and weeks following the Queensland floods in 2011, victims were tricked into giving over personal information and banking details, and were also robbed by crooks masquerading as tradespeople,” he says.[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”][i]

    Likewise, after the Canberra bushfires in 2003, there were reports of fraud.

    “In the Canberra fires, many victims lost their homes, possessions, cars and key identification documents, meaning they had no way to prove their identity or use support services. Equally, impostors had an opportunity to present themselves as such victims, for instance by claiming to be someone whose name and address they had garnered from media reports” an Australian Federal Police Study reports.[ii]

    The Queensland State Emergency Services recommends people preparing an emergency kit for evacuation secure the originals or certified copies of their important documents. These include insurance documents, an inventory of valuable household goods, wills, house deeds, loan documents, passports, stocks and bonds, medical and government information, and bank and credit card details.

    “Scan copies of these documents and save on a USB memory stick or CD to include in your kit. Keep all these items in sealed plastic bags.” the SES advises. [iii]

    Mr Doessel says correct management of identity documents is so essential during disasters such as flood, not only because victims can then prove their identity to authorities and relevant relief bodies, but because personal information can be stolen by identity thieves and victims can have credit taken out in their name.

    “In this instance, the victim is hit not twice, but three times. Their homes and belongings ruined by flood, debts incurred in their name by fraudsters and a series of defaults or other infringements mean they are unable to get credit for up to 5 years.”

    “The process of repairing inconsistent credit listings can take months, regardless of the source of the default, as it involves the victim proving to Creditors they didn’t initiate the credit in their name,” he says.

    He says fraudsters may not need full copies of identity documents in order to fit pieces of a person’s identity together for fraud.

    “With so much personal information available online as well, even a small piece of personal information found or given away to fraudsters after a disaster may be all that’s needed to set up a new identity in a victim’s name, or attempt to claim compensation with it,” Mr Doessel says.

    Anyone who is suspicious their identity has been stolen or under threat should contact Police immediately, and should also contact the credit reporting agencies which hold their credit file.

    To order their credit report people can go to http://www.mycra.com.au/credit-file-request/.

    For those people needing a Flood Emergency Evacuation Plan and a full list of essential items for an emergency kit, the SES Queensland web page ‘Be Prepared’ http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/beprepared.asp will assist.

    /ENDS.

    Please Contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Releations media@mycra.com.au

    Graham Doessel CEO –  Ph: 3124 7133

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog

    246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/vultures-descend-on-victims-with-scams-20110116-19sm0.html

    [ii] http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/17/1079199293672.html

    [iii] http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/emq/css/emergencykit.asp

    Image: sakhorn38/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

  • How to cure Christmas credit hangover

    cure Christmas credit hangoverIn our ‘Make Credit Work For You’ post this week, we look at what you should do to recoup those financial losses over the Christmas period which are seeing you struggling with debt and that may have already impacted your credit rating this January. The below story by Karina Barrymore was featured in The Daily Telegraph and other publications this Sunday, and features comment from debt and finance experts including myself, Dun & Bradstreet CEO Gareth Jones, and Financial Counselling Australia’s Brian Harvey. I hope you find some helpful tips to assist you in getting your head above water with credit.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, www.fixmybadcredit.com.au and www.facebook.com/FixMyBadCredit.com.au.

    How to cure Christmas credit hangover

    By Karina Barrymore Jan 13 The Daily Telegraph

    There are not quick fixes for a festive debt blowout.

    OK, DESPITE the good intentions, the spending urge somehow got the better of you and you’ve blown the Christmas budget. Christmas credit card bills and bank statements are about to arrive, so how do you cure a seasonal debt hangover?

    Unfortunately, there’s no gain without pain when it comes to getting back in the black. Here are the top tips from debt and finance experts for easing that pain in the purse.

    The debt collector Credit reporting agency and debt collector Dun & Bradstreet says the worst thing anyone suffering a new year debt hangover can do is ignore the problem.

    “We often see a spike in defaults in the first half of the year, which results from credit used over the Christmas period,” Dun & Bradstreet chief executive Gareth Jones says.

    “Apart from causing financial pain, this situation can also impact people’s ability to access future credit as the default stays on a credit report for up to five years.”

    His top tips are:

    Close any bank accounts or credit facilities that are not essential.

    Don’t ignore letters or phone calls about debts. If you owe money, the best thing you can do is repay it.

    Pay attention to all your bills and pay them in full and on time.

    Avoid borrowing money to get out of one debt, and don’t use one credit facility to pay off another.

    The credit file manager Credit file advocate and repair service MyCRA says at this time of year fraud and identity theft is also higher.

    “The increase in credit usage in general can also mean issues like identity theft, financial hardship and basic credit reporting mistakes can be more prevalent at this time,” MyCRA chief executive Graham Doessel says.

    “An important part of curing a post-Christmas credit hangover is to take stock of what is said about you on your credit report. There is the potential for errors to be present on your credit report. Mistakes can and do happen but the responsibility for checking your credit file rests with you.

    “Most people don’t realise how easy it is to obtain a default. If any credit account has been left unpaid for greater than 60 days, the creditor can list the overdue account as a default on your file.

    “Often we see people in the new year who have missed paying a phone bill during the Christmas rush, then gone on holiday for some time, apply for a loan in the new year and are shocked to find they have a bad credit rating.”

    Doessel says now is the time to check your credit file.

    You can receive a free copy from most credit reporting agencies within 10 days or you can pay a fee to receive it sooner.

    If you have negative listings, defaults, writs or judgments, which you believe are errors or unfair, you have the right to have these entries rectified.

    Advisers and counsellors Financial advisers and counsellors say the first and best thing to do if you are in financial strife is to seek support.

    “Act quickly and ask for help,” says Financial Counselling Australia member Brian Harvey. “Speak to a financial counsellor, family, partner, your bank.

    “If people are left with post-Christmas debt, they should contact their providers as soon as possible to let them know they are having difficulties. They can then set up an affordable repayment arrangement, which will involve them first working out what is affordable. Often people put off dealing with the debt as long as possible, during which time it often grows.”

    Hewison Wealth adviser Glenn Fairbairn says sometimes refinancing your credit card by seeking a lower-cost loan can ease the repayment burden, or allow you to get ahead because you’re paying less interest.

    “It is important to prioritise the repayment of any outstanding credit card debt, even if this means cutting back on discretionary spending. Cut up your credit card. This will ensure that you don’t do the same thing again next year.

    “And start planning for next Christmas now.”

    The legal centre “Get on the front foot and seek assistance,” Consumer Action Law Centre spokesman Daniel Simpson says.

    “If you put off getting help, you’re only going to fall further behind.”

    “The first thing you should do is pick up the phone, call the credit provider.

    “Think twice before hiring a credit repair or budgeting service to help you. These companies make it sound easy and pain-free to repay your debts but they usually charge a significant fee.”

    If you’re in credit strife

    * Don’t ignore the problem. Be proactive and ask for help.

    * Act quickly and let your creditors know you are having trouble. Ask for a new repayment plan if you need to.

    * Start to repay a little, even $10, over and above the minimum repayments.

    * Set a strict budget, including all your repayments and bills before other spending.

    * Cut up all your credit cards.

    * See a free financial counsellor, phone 1800 007 007 for an appointment.

    * Be aware that budgeting companies and credit repair agencies charge a fee.

    The message to not bury your head in the sand, and to get on top of your debts early, can’t be stressed enough to avoid getting into hot water with defaults on your credit rating.

    However, it is important to know that credit repair and budgeting services are different entitites, and do different things for you. Credit repair is generally not a budgeting service.

    What is credit repair?

    A decent credit repairer addresses credit rating inconsistencies by auditing your credit file and customer information to find areas of non-compliance by your creditor which may see your default or other negative credit listing removed from your credit file. It is useful for those people who believe their listing is unfair, contains errors or is unfounded (or those people who want to check the lawfulness of their credit listing).

    You may dispute inconsistencies on your credit file yourself, and this is free. But many people choose to use a professional credit repairer to work on their behalf because they don’t have the time, and most importantly because they find the process incredibly difficult. To ensure successful removing of a credit listing from your credit file, you must prove that your creditor did not comply with the law when placing the default or other listing on your credit file.

    So its more involved than just showing right and wrong, it has to be demonstrated according to the law. We liken it a little bit to defending yourself in Court. Sure – you may be able to defend yourself, but your case has much more chance of success if you use a legal professional.

    For help to obtain a copy of your credit report, and advice on how to tackle your credit rating defaults contact a MyCRA Credit Repair Advisor on 1300 667 218.

    Image: Grant Cochrane/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Be bushfire ready: Protect your important documents and protect your good name.

    [fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”true” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_sizes_top=”” border_sizes_bottom=”” border_sizes_left=”” border_sizes_right=”” first=”true”][fusion_text]

    Media Release

    bushfire warningsBe bushfire ready: Protect your important documents and protect your good name.

    10 January 2013

    With this week’s record heatwave fuelling bushfires across the country, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning Australians that their important papers need to be disaster -ready to prevent both loss and theft of identity.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says if Australians need to leave their homes at any time during a disaster – whether that be a bushfire, storm, or flood they need to ensure their important documents are ready to go with them.

    “In a disaster, there is seldom time to fish around for important papers, so documents should be ready to go should victims need to leave their home in a hurry.”

    “In recent years, crooks have been quite savvy and have realised that personal information is the gateway to identity theft. Disaster victims are not immune and in some cases may be targets,” he warns.

    This comes as the Government issued bushfire warnings last week and urged the public to be prepared should disaster strike – including securing important family documents.

    “The next week is set to be a scorcher so it’s crucial Australians are prepared in the event disaster strikes,” Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management Nicola Roxon said in a release to the media last Thursday.

    She advised Australians to prepare an emergency kit, including a torch, first aid kit, medication and a battery operated AM/FM receiver.

    “Other items to include in a household emergency kit include copies of important family documents, contact details for your agreed out-of-town contact and spare clothes and strong shoes,” she said.

    Mr Doessel says disasters in the recent past were further plagued by scammers and identity thieves hoping to make a quick buck from the misfortune of others.

    “In the days and weeks following the Queensland floods in 2010, victims were tricked into giving over personal information and banking details, and were also robbed by crooks masquerading as tradespeople,” he says.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” type=”flex”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” 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” align_self=”flex-start” border_sizes_undefined=”” first=”true” last=”true” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

    [i]

    Likewise, after the Canberra bushfires in 2003, there were reports of fraud.

    “In the Canberra fires, many victims lost their homes, possessions, cars and key identification documents, meaning they had no way to prove their identity or use support services. Equally, impostors had an opportunity to present themselves as such victims, for instance by claiming to be someone whose name and address they had garnered from media reports” an Australian Federal Police Study reports.[ii]

    He says if a disaster victim is unlucky to have their personal information stolen by identity thieves they can have credit taken out in their name.

    “They are hit twice – because they are also robbed of their ability to have a financial future. They are locked out of credit for up to 5 years or until any defaults that are incurred are removed. This is regardless of the source of the default. The process of repair can take months, as it involves the victim proving to Creditors they didn’t initiate the credit in their name,” he says.

    He says documents like passports, marriage, birth, and death certificates, past tax returns and even bank statements and utility bills could all be stolen and used to appropriate someone’s identity.

    “With so much personal information available online as well, even a small piece of personal information found after a disaster may be all the thieves need to set up a new identity for themselves in one of the victim’s names, or attempt to claim compensation with it.”

    Anyone who is suspicious their identity has been stolen or under threat should contact Police immediately, and should also contact the credit reporting agencies which hold their credit file.

    People can go to http://www.mycra.com.au/credit-file-request/ for help to get their credit report.

    Ms Roxon explained that Australian Government’s Preparing for the Unexpected[iii] brochure and the Red Cross’s Emergency REDiPlan[iv] are both good resources to help Australians be better prepared should disaster strike.

    /ENDS.

    Please Contact:

    Graham Doessel CEO – Ph 3124 7133

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog 246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/vultures-descend-on-victims-with-scams-20110116-19sm0.html

    [ii] http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/17/1079199293672.html

    [iii] http://www.em.gov.au/Publications/Communityawarenesspublications/Pages/

    PreparingfortheUnexpectedFifthEdition.aspx#preparing

    [iv] http://www.redcross.org.au/prepare.aspx

    Image: think4photop/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

  • Stay safe on Australia’s biggest day of online commerce

    Media Release

    Stay safe on Australia’s biggest day of online commerce

    Buying presents online is bigger than ever this year, and it has been announced by online commerce experts that Sunday December 9 2012 is predicted to be the biggest day of online retail in Australia’s history.

    With this in mind a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning Australians to be vigilant with their personal information, as credit card fraud is not the only way unsuspecting consumers can be ripped off online.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says those consumers buying online should be careful giving out not only banking details but other pieces of personal information to unfamiliar online retailers, as this information may be used or stored for purposes of identity theft.

    “If you are caught out with bank fraud, your bank may be able to monitor your accounts and in many cases reimburse you for stolen funds, but identity fraud is not so simple.”

    “Identity theft is about building up a profile on the victim, and if fraudsters are able to do this they can request replacement copies of identification in your name and gain access to your credit rating, so it may be your personal details that the crooks are really after,” he says.

    Ebay, Paypal and Australia Post recently predicted Sunday December 9, 2012 will be Australia’s biggest online retail day, with 2.3 million Australians expected to visit Ebay alone on this day.[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”][i] Whilst these retailers are familiar and trusted companies, some retailers are not always what they seem.

    The Australian Federal Police released a statement on Monday warning all consumers they need to keep close their personal information as they would if they were physically at the store.

    AFP National Manager High Tech Crime Operations Neil Gaughan:

    “Consumers need to ensure they protect their personal and financial information. Following basic security measures will prevent fraud and the disappointment and stress of financial loss when goods thought purchased are not received.” [ii]

    NSW Fair Trading, independent organisation Internet Fraud Watchdog and Western Union also launched the “Be Vigilant, Verify and Be Vocal” campaign against fraud in Sydney on Wednesday.

    Their campaign features Olympian Giaan Rooney, who was herself a victim of fraud earlier in the year when fraudsters racked up $17,500 on her credit card.

    “Fraud transcends the whole community. No-one is immune, it cuts across all Australians immaterial of age or status,” she says.[iii]

    These warnings seem fitting in light of security company McAfee’s recent survey on Australian online retail transactions.

    McAffee’s study featured a survey of 1005 Australians and found that one in three did not know how to recognise a secure web address. Over half also said they would provide their name and age, and 38% say they’d give their phone number to online retailers.[iv]

    But Mr Doessel says these basics of safe online commerce need to become common knowledge, as consumers can not only face a loss of money, but can potentially end up identity theft victims. He says this starts with two important points:

    “If the web address does not start with https:// your personal or financial details may not be safe – and the website may not be legitimate. Verify this before you proceed with entering your details,” Mr Doessel says.

    He also says people are giving away too much information to online retailers and there is a risk of that information going to identity thieves – whether that be due to a data breach or via a fraudulent retailer.

    “You have to think – does this store really need my date of birth? Only give information that is necessary for the transaction – and if your date of birth is one of them, I would be questioning why,” he says.

    Mr Doessel says identity theft can happen to anyone, and the victim may not always know the exact circumstances leading to debts in their name.

    “Sometimes the actual identity theft can have happened years ago, and it’s not until the victim applies for credit and is refused that they find out. The victim will have five to seven years of being blacklisted from credit unless they are able to prove they didn’t initiate the credit in the first place,” he says.

    He says if people worry they may have fallen victim to identity theft they should check their bank and credit card statements thoroughly and should also order a copy of their credit report – which would indicate if their credit file had been misused.

    “Contact Police immediately and also alert your Creditors and the Credit Reporting Agencies which hold your credit file if you are at all suspicious of identity theft before it leads to fraud,” he says.

    Victims can also use the services of a credit rating repairer to recover their good name following identity theft.

    Please contact:

    Graham Doessel – CEO Ph 3124 7133

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog

    246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://auspost.com.au/about-us/biggest-online-shopping-day.html

    [ii] http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/news/afp/2012/december/stay-safe-during-the-festive-season.aspx

    [iii] http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/published/2012/12/340/catf_121205_143800_0813.html

    [iv] http://www.smartcompany.com.au/internet/052956-virus-experts-warn-beware-of-the-12-online-scams-of-christmas.html?utm_source=SmartCompany&utm_campaign=6debdba9e3-Friday_16_November_201216_11_2012&utm_medium=email

    Image: Naypong/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • How Can You Prevent a Data Breach in Your Small Business?

    If we can learn anything from recent reports of more Australian cyber-crime victims, we must learn that personal information is so important to keep safe. Not only is today’s cyber-crook or scammer after your money – they are after the money you can borrow – through obtaining credit in your name. The recent arrests of seven Romanian people in Australia’s largest credit card data theft investigation in which those criminals had access to 500,000 Australian credit cards is a chilling reminder to all Australians that we are not immune to fraud and identity theft. The fact that these criminals were able to gain this information by hacking the databases of 100 Australian small businesses prompts us to look into what Australians can do to protect their customer information within their business network and keep their customer’s personal information and credit files safe.

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

    On Thursday, the Australian Federal Police announced in a joint release to the media, that they have arrested seven people in Romania in Australia’s largest credit card data theft investigation.

    The criminal syndicate had access to 500 000 Australian credit cards and approximately 30 000 credit cards have been used for fraudulent transactions amounting to more than $30 million…

    Stolen credit card data was being used to create false credit cards, enabling thousands of counterfeit transactions to be carried out in numerous overseas locations including Europe, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States.

    After the AFP identified the cause of the data compromise, the investigation grew to involve numerous international law enforcement partners and the Australian banking and finance sector also provided strong support…

    No Australian credit card holders lost money as a result of these fraudulent transactions. Australian financial institutions reimbursed the financial losses of cardholders…

    Abacus Australian Mutuals CEO Louise Petschler said today’s developments show that cyber crime is a global enterprise.

    “It underlines how a coordinated approach by law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, merchants and consumers can help fight card fraud. We all have a role to play to ensure credit card transactions are safe and secure,” Ms Petschler said.

    “Policing is only one part of the solution to stop data compromises – credit cards should be kept in a secure place, ATMS should be checked for any unusual attachments, personal details including PIN numbers should be protected, financial statements should be checked continuously, mail boxes should be secured and if possible, ‘chip and pin’ security implemented on credit cards,” Commander McEwen said.

    The ABC ran a story the same day on this issue, ‘Australian small businesses targetted by data theft syndicate.’

    It featured IT security expert, Nigel Phair from the Centre for Internet Safety at the University of Canberra. He says it proves that many small businesses are not taking data security seriously enough.

    While he’s surprised at the scale of the operation, Nigel Phair isn’t surprised Australia was a target.

    ”We are susceptible. We are a good economy, we are ripe for the picking for these international criminals,” Nigel Phair says.

    He says the issue for small businesses, is they spend next to no money on any IT security.

    He says it is relatively simple for criminals to get hold of those credit card details if a company doesn’t have any such security.

    “It really is a matter of just hacking into the organisation, finding where their credit card details are stored and then stealing them and then transacting them yourself, you know. And then the next question coming out of that is after you do a transaction with a small to medium enterprise, there’s no reason for them to retain your data,” he says.

    “In the small to medium category I would suggest most [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”][small businesses] aren’t adhering to it [best practice when it comes to credit card data].”

    Preventing Data Breaches in Small Businesses

    Following the introduction of amendments to Australia’s Privacy Laws in the form of the Privacy Amendments (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012, there will be more protection for individuals in regards to their personal information.

    How this will flow through to small business procedures is still to be officially outlined, as they will be exempt from some of the new laws.

    Small businesses looking to comply as much as possible with best practice guidelines for personal information security right now, should consult the Privacy Commissioner’s guidelines, found on the OAIC website.

    The Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim says appropriate security safeguards for personal information need to be considered across a range of areas. This could include maintaining physical security, computer and network security, communications security and personnel security. To meet their information security obligations, agencies and organisations should consider the following steps:

    • Risk assessment – Identifying the security risks to personal information held by the organisation and the consequences of a breach of security.

    • Privacy impact assessments – Evaluating, in a systemic way, the degree to which proposed or existing information systems align with good privacy practice and legal obligations.

    • Policy development – Developing a policy or range of policies that implement measures, practices and procedures to reduce the identified risks to information security.

    • Staff training – Training staff and managers in security and fraud awareness, practices and procedures and codes of conduct.

    • The appointment of a responsible person or position – Creating a designated position within the agency or organisation to deal with data breaches. This position could have responsibility for establishing policy and procedures, training staff, coordinating reviews and audits and investigating and responding to breaches.

    • Technology – Implementing privacy enhancing technologies to secure personal information held by the agency or organisation, including through such measures as access control, copy protection, intrusion detection, and robust encryption.

    • Monitoring and review – Monitoring compliance with the security policy, periodic assessments of new security risks and the adequacy of existing security measures, and ensuring that effective complaint handling procedures are in place.

    • Standards – Measuring performance against relevant Australian and international standards as a guide.

    • Appropriate contract management – Conducting appropriate due diligence where services (especially data storage services) are contracted, particularly in terms of the IT security policies and practices that the service provider has in place, and then monitoring compliance with these policies through periodic audits.

    He goes on to say that in in seeking to prevent data breaches, agencies and organisations should be considering their other privacy obligations to do with data collection and retention. Some breaches or risks of harm can be avoided or minimised by not collecting particular types of personal information or only keeping it for as long as necessary.

    Consider the following:

    •What personal information is it necessary to collect? – …“Personal information that is never collected, cannot be mishandled,” he says.

    • How long does the personal information need to be kept? –…”destruction or de-identification of information that this no longer required will usually be a reasonable step to prevent the loss or misuse of that information).”

    For a full and complete picture of the OAIC Privacy Guidelines, including the relevant Privacy Principles and obligations you may be subject to, we recommend you read the above information in its full context, in this article: the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, Data breach notification: a guide to handling personal information security breaches – April 2012.

    Image: cooldesign/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Stay safe this Christmas: Scam victims should be worried about 5 year blacklisting on their credit rating

    Media Release

    Stay safe this Christmas: Scam victims should be worried about 5 year blacklisting on their credit rating

    As more Christmas scams come to the fore, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning consumers that scammers are not just after the money in their bank accounts, but are after much more – their financial identity.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs, Graham Doessel says consumers need to be wary of the opportunities fraudsters may take to misuse their personal information.

    “Scams and other fraud attempts are becoming much more sophisticated as profits get more lucrative. Many fraudsters are into building a profile of their victim – extracting layers of information which allows them to access credit in the victim’s name – including loans and even properties.”

    “The difficulty for recovery when someone has tapped in to your credit rating is that generally you have unpaid debts in your name, which are placed in default – which basically means for 5 years your own ability to obtain credit is ruined,” Mr Doessel says.

    This warning comes as the Australian Banker’s Association (ABA) last week announced reports of a telephone scam where fraudsters were impersonating them and offering instructions on how to obtain a ‘refund’ for overcharged bank fees.[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”][i]

    The ABA said criminals asked customers to proceed to a post office to receive the so-called ‘refund’ – ranging from $5 000 – $7 000.

    Victims are then asked to wire money via Western Union for costs associated with the ‘refund’.

    But in addition, scammers also tacked on a request for personal details, which signifies an attempt to misuse those details in the future, possibly for identity theft purposes.

    Fraudsters asked these questions:

    – With whom do you bank?
    – For how long?
    – What is your credit card number?
    – What is your driver’s licence number?

    Mr Doessel says fraudsters are attempting to gather extra information from their victims over and above what they might already have in front of them.

    “If they have your full name plus who you bank with, and your driver’s licence number – they have the basic building blocks for an identity theft attempt. They can call the bank and have some kind of identity information on which to proceed with accessing bank accounts AND accessing further credit in your name,” he says.

    The bank refund phone scam has been added to a long list of scam attempts running over the past few months, and many more could emerge as Christmas approaches.

    Mr Doessel says sometimes people don’t know they have been a victim until after they apply for credit and are refused.

    “By that time, it is such a struggle to recover your good name. For an identity theft victim to have a chance at removing bad credit history, you must prove you didn’t initiate the credit in the first place. This can be difficult if the scam happened months or years before,” he says.

    What to do if you suspect you have fallen for a scam

    1. Contact the Police immediately. Don’t be embarrassed or dismiss it because you don’t think the amount was significant enough. It is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    2. Contact your Bank. They should be able to flag your accounts so that no credit can be obtained in your name.

    3. Contact the credit reporting agencies that hold your credit file. In Australia, this is Veda Advantage, Dun and Bradstreet and TASCOL (if in Tasmania). You should inform them that you may be at risk of identity theft and they may have a plan of action for protecting your credit file.

    4. At this time, you should also order a copy of your credit report. If there are any inconsistencies on your credit report – change of address, strange credit enquiries and instances of credit you don’t believe you’ve access, then you may already be a victim – and should do all that’s possible to follow up on each account so as not to accrue defaults on your credit file that should not be there.

    5. If you find you have defaults that shouldn’t be there, take steps to remove them. Although it seemed so easy for the fraudster to use your good name in the first place, you are now faced with proving the case of identity theft with copious amounts of documentary evidence in order to get the credit listings removed from your credit file.

    If you have neither the time nor the knowledge of Australia’s credit reporting system and credit legislation that you may need to fight your case yourself, you can seek the help of a professional credit repairer.

    Visit www.mycra.com.au for more information on identity theft and bad credit or call MyCRA on 1300 667 218.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Graham Doessel – CEO Ph 3124 7133

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog 246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s leader in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.bankers.asn.au/Media/Media-Releases/Media-Release-2012/Phone-Scam-Alert[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Beware identity theft with latest bank ‘refund’ phone scam

    Identity Theft Warning: Banking phone scammers currently on the prowl in Australia are attempting to not only pilfer easy profits from unsuspecting victims via wire transfer, but it looks like they’re also after crucial identity information which could lead to identity fraud. We look at this scam, and what you should do if you think you’re a victim.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/FixMyBadCredit.com.au

    Last week Australian Broker online reported on this alarming banking scam ‘Banker phone scam bamboozles customers’ which involves the Australian Bankers Association (ABA). The report says twenty five people had contacted the ABA in the three days prior to report a telephone scam – and at least two had fallen victim to the scam which involved fraudsters calling customers supposedly on behalf of the organisation offering instructions on how to obtain a ‘refund’ for overcharged fees.

    “They then ask the customer to go to a post office to receive a so-called ‘refund’ – ranging from $5 000 – $7 000. Instructions are given to call the criminals on arrival at a post office, where they try to talk the customer into sending money, via the post or Western Union, claiming it’s a fee for the so-called ‘refund service’.”

    And alarmingly:

    “In several cases, customers have been asked to reveal additional information, including whom they bank with, how long they have been a customer of said bank, what their credit card number is and what their driver’s licence number is,” The Australian Broker report says.

    Steven Münchenberg, ABA chief executive, said in a release to the media, that most customers contacting ABA after receiving the phone calls have been suspicious and have not provided any money or information to the con artists.

    “However, members of my staff did speak to two customers who had sent [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”][money] to the criminals – around $300 via Western Union. Unfortunately, there is no hope of retrieving that money and it is lost to fraud,” he says.

    “These criminals are preying on people and we are urging anyone who receives a call with a promise of easy money to hang up.”

    What could fraudsters do with the additional information they are asking for?

    What fraudsters are doing, is attempting to gather extra information from their victim over and above what they might already have in front of them.

    If they have a person’s full name plus who they bank with, and what their driver’s licence number is they have the basic building blocks for an identity theft attempt. They can call the bank and have some kind of identity information on which to proceed with accessing bank accounts AND accessing further credit in the victim’s name.

    What should you do if you suspect too late you’ve fallen for a scam?

    If you have just found out you are a victim, we recommend you contact the Police – as well as your bank – especially if you have given over personal information to fraudsters. Don’t be embarrassed – it is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    Telling your bank also means they can flag your accounts and upgrade security on your account/s.

    You should also contact the credit reporting agencies that hold your credit file and inform them that you may be at risk of identity theft.

    At this time, you should also order a copy of your credit report. If there are any inconsistencies on your credit report – change of address, strange credit enquiries and instances of credit you don’t believe you’ve accessed yourself, then you may already be a victim – and should do all that’s possible to follow up on each account so as not to accrue defaults on your credit file that should not be there.

    Credit file defaults are difficult for the individual to remove and generally people are told by creditors they remain on our file for 5 years, regardless of how they got there. Any negative listing will prevent you from obtaining credit, so it is vitally important that your credit file is clear.

    Although it seemed so easy for the fraudster to use your good name in the first place, you are now faced with proving the case of identity theft with copious amounts of documentary evidence.

    If you have neither the time nor the knowledge of our credit reporting system that you may need to fight your case yourself, you can seek the help of a credit repairer. A credit repairer can help you to clear your credit file and restore the financial freedom you rightly deserve.

    The reason a credit repairer is usually so successful in removing your credit file defaults, is their relationships with creditors, and their knowledge of current legislation.

    Visit www.mycra.com.au for more information on identity theft or how to repair bad credit.

    Image: imagerymajestic/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image 2: nuttakit/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

  • Protecting Mr and Mrs Average from Identity Fraud

    Media Release

    Protecting Mr and Mrs Average from ID Fraud

    Every Australian is at risk of identity theft, and the government’s expansion of laws may help to put a price on what has been up to now a lucrative, faceless crime resulting in innocent people ripped off, and left with an uncertain financial future, a credit rating repairer says.

    MyCRA Credit Repairs CEO, Graham Doessel says improvements to identity fraud laws through the Crime Bill, passed by the Government on Wednesday are long overdue to increase protection to Australians for what is now termed “the fastest growing crime in Australia.”[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”][i]

    “This is more than just basic credit card skimming or accessing bank accounts. Identity fraud comes about when a person’s good name has been misused, and that generally means fraudsters have been able to open credit accounts in their victim’s names – leaving the victim in debt and usually with a string of defaults against their name,” Mr Doessel says.

    The Australian Crime Commission’s CEO, John Lawler revealed at a national conference for credit professionals in September that identity crime is a “key facilitator” for organised crime groups because it is an anonymous crime which can facilitate significant fraud.

    “Every single person in this room and the various sectors and organisations that you represent are targets for organised crime,” he told the Conference.[ii]

    “Criminals will exploit technology to not only carry out new crimes but commit traditional crimes on a much larger scale.”

    The ACC estimates organised crime is currently costing the Australian economy at least $15 billion per annum – and that the impacts of this are significant and growing.

    Mr Lawler says the amount of personal information requested, stored and shared online provides organised crime with a larger pool of victims and data to harvest.

    “Organised criminals seek to conduct significant research on their intended victims and tailoring their operations to target weaknesses,” he says.

    Mr Doessel says this means when fraudsters ‘get someone’ with identity fraud the victim can have their life turned upside down.

    “Recovering from identity fraud is never an easy task. Creditors need proof the victim didn’t initiate the credit. But many people don’t know how the fraud eventuated, and even if they do there’s no guarantee they can recover their good credit rating,” he says.

    He welcomes increases to penalty units within the Crimes Act from $110 to $170, their first increase in 15 years.

    Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the change would mean a person dealing in the proceeds of crime would see their fine rise from $165,000 to $255,000.[iii]

    The Age reported yesterday that the changes could see those people who use a carriage service like the internet or a mobile phone to obtain identity information with the intention of committing another offence could be sentenced to five years in jail.[iv]

    The crime of identity fraud has also expanded to include a number of activities such as flying interstate or booking domestic flights online using a fake identity.

    Mr Doessel says prevention is always better than the cure when it comes to identity fraud.

    “Australians need to understand that their personal information is a valuable commodity and should look at where it might be at risk of misuse. Keep your computer protected, don’t give your personal information to anyone who doesn’t need it and cross-shred all personally identifiable documents at home rather than throwing them straight in the rubbish,” he says.

    “Fraudsters are even going through rubbish bins to find what they need. So last month’s bank statement could be the missing link fraudsters needed to set up new accounts in your name.”

    He says if people worry they may be vulnerable to identity theft they should check their bank and credit card statements thoroughly and should also order a copy of their credit report – which would indicate if their credit file had been misused.

    “Contact Police immediately and also alert your Creditors and the Credit Reporting Agencies which hold your credit file if you are at all suspicious of identity theft before it leads to fraud,” he says.

    Victims can also use the services of a credit rating repairer to recover their good name following identity theft.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Graham Doessel – Director Ph 07 3124 7133

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog

    246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s number one in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

    ——————————————————————————–

    [i] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Media–

    [ii] http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/media/presentation-to-dun-bradstreet-consumer-credit-conference-2012

    [iii] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Media-releases/Pages/2012/Fourth%20Quarter/21November2012Makingcriminalspay.aspx

    [iv] http://www.theage.com.au/national/government-cracks-down-on-identity-fraud-20121121-29qnf.html#ixzz2CuXawkmr

    Image: Ambro/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]