MyCRA Specialist Credit Repair Lawyers

Tag: Identity Theft

  • 1.2 million Australians per year fall victim to fraud

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released their Personal Fraud Survey, which was conducted over 12 months in 2010 and 2011. The results are interesting, with some noteworthy trends on identity fraud, identity theft and scams coming out of the figures from this survey. One of particular significance was that almost half of the identity theft victims had no idea how their personal details were obtained.

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

    This is the second Fraud Survey of its kind for the ABS, with the previous Personal Fraud Survey conducted in 2007.

    The ABS Personal Fraud survey shows a total of 1.2 million fraud victims in Australia (aged 15 years and over) were a victim of at least one incident victims of personal fraud in the 12 months prior to interview in 2010-11.

    “This equates to a national victimisation rate for personal fraud of 6.7% of the population aged 15 years and over. This is an increase from the 806,000 victims of personal fraud in 2007 (5.0%),” The ABS reports.

    “The total financial loss recorded from this fraud in Australia amounted to $1.4 billion. Three in five victims of personal fraud (60% or 713,600 persons) lost money, an average of $2,000 per victim who incurred a financial loss. The median loss for personal fraud was $300,” The ABS reports.

    In the 12 months prior to the survey, an estimated 702,100 Australians were victims of identity fraud, or 4.0% of the population aged 15 years and over. This is an increase from the 499,500 victims of identity fraud in 2007 (3.1%).

    Credit card fraud was most common, with an estimated 662,300 Australians aged 15 years and over or 3.7% of the population reporting incidents of it.

    In the 12 months prior to survey in 2010-11, an estimated 44,700 Australians were victims of identity theft, or 0.3% of the population aged 15 years and over.

    According to the survey results, an estimated 6.4 million Australians were exposed to a scam in the 12 months prior to interview, or just over a third of the population. An estimated 514,500 Australians aged 15 years and over (2.9%) responded to a scam in the 12 months prior to survey.

    A little more on identity theft…

    It has become most likely that should people fall victim to identity theft, that their personal information is used to gain credit or finance in some way. And frighteningly, nearly half of all these victims don’t know how their personal information was obtained. Many (12%) don’t know about identity theft until they perform a credit check or one is performed on them for some reason.

    “One in five (19.9%) victims of identity theft indicated having their personal information used for applications for a loan or to gain credit in the five years prior to interview in 2010-11, making it the most common way that personal information was used.

    Just under a third (31.8%) of identity theft victims discovered that they had been a victim of identity theft via a notification or query from a government agency, 15.1% through a bill from a business or company, and 12.0% through a credit check.

    The most common known way that victims’ personal details were obtained in the commission of identity theft was in person (28.3% of victims), followed by email/internet (10.0%), although nearly half of all victims (44.0%) reported that they did not know how their personal details were obtained,” the ABS reports.

    Those people in the 25-55 age group were most likely to be victims of identity theft. Those who were gainfully employed were twice as likely to become identity theft victims, as were those earning over $2,000 a week.

    How can people go all the way to the credit check before realising they are victims of identity theft?

    It depends on the fraud type. In cases of out and out identity theft, fraudsters have secretly gained personal information in some way (the victim may not even be aware of where their personal details have been compromised). The fraudster gains enough information to go about making some form of duplicate identity, and then unbenownst to the victim, they apply for credit in the victim’s name.

    In cases where the fraudster has been successful, the fallout can be a nightmare for the identity theft victim. Generally the victim is left with a series of overdue accounts on their credit file. These show as default listings or clearouts will stop the victim from being able to borrow for between 5 (defaults) and 7 (clearout) years.

    But just like any other form of credit file inconsistency, it is up to the credit file holder to prove the inconsistency and in the case of the identity theft victim, that it wasn’t them that took out the credit in the first place. This could be really difficult for those people who can’t even prove where their personal information was stolen let alone how.

    To find out more about identity theft, visit our identity theft fact page How to Prevent Identity Theft and Keep a Clean Credit Rating or visit the MyCRA website http://www.mycra.com.au/identity-theft/.

    Image: Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

  • Older Australians at risk of cybercrime: Super funds a prime target

    Personal information has become a valuable commodity in cybercrime circles. It can be extracted, abused and traded for identity theft purposes and to take advantage of someone’s good credit rating. And as many older Australians are finding out – it can also be pilfered to make some crook wealthy through hijacking Super Funds – without the victim knowing a thing about it.

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

    Australian Federal Police warn that older Australians may be susceptible to identity theft, phishing and data mining activities and in particular Superannuation Fraud, according to Technology Spectator.

    Its article ‘Super funds under threat from cyber criminals: AFP’ also reveals that this susceptibility is coupled with a lack of protection around identity verification with self-managed super-funds.

    An Australian Federal Police submission to the Joint Select Committee of Cyber Security recommends wider education about internet awareness for older Australians.

    The AFP says the combination of wealth and size of this population demographic is tempting for fraudsters:

    “Seniors citizens are accessible, they represent the fastest growing demographic in our ageing population and they hold a large portion of Australia’s wealth. Therefore, they are an attractive potential target for, and may fall victim to, an array of scams and frauds,” the AFP said in their report.

    In June last year we blogged about the growing trend of hacking super funds in a post titled ‘Identity theft News: Latest Warnings and Recommendations’.

    At the time, NSW Police had advised the public of a scam targeting Super Accounts, where fraudsters were stealing enough information from unsuspecting victims to transfer their Super into self-managed funds which could then be easily accessed by the criminals. In effect, criminals were hijacking Super funds.

    Fraud Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Col Dyson said “Superannuation fraud…works well because no-one checks their super…victims rarely notice account changes, making it easy for criminals to change mailing addresses.”  Read more on this story ‘Crooks siphon super funds,’ on CRN Australia’s website.

    Unfortunately, unlike bank fraud, there is no obligation for superannuation funds to reimburse victims, and if the fraud occurs on overseas shores, there is unfortunately very little chance of recovering the stolen money.

    There is also the chance that personal information may be further abused by fraudsters taking out credit in the victim’s name once the Super transfer is successful. This can lead to a series of defaults and bad credit history, which can be hard to recover from.

    People should contact Police for what to do if they have been a victim of Superannuation Fraud or any form of identity theft.  They may advise of the victim’s possible eligibility for a Commonwealth Victims of Identity Crime Certificate, which would at least aid in talking to creditors when the victim attempts to remove their bad credit history and recover their good name.

    People should also check their credit report for any signs of misuse – changes in contact information, strange credit enquiries they didn’t initiate and even new credit can all be signs of identity theft. A credit report is free every year, and can be obtained from the credit reporting agencies.

    For help with identity theft recovery, or for more information on identity theft and how it can affect a person’s credit file, contact MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs on 1300 667 218 or www.mycra.com.au.

    Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Slam Scams! Anyone can end up a victim of scams and identity theft

    Scams are not just reserved for the elderly or the technologically unsound – although these people can be vulnerable. In reality, scams are so prevalent and can be so sophisticated that anyone can find themselves a victim of a scam. For National Consumer Fraud Week, myself and my team at MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs want to help promote the realisation in the community that scammers are out there every day draining bank accounts and leaving you with a bad credit history for years to come.

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

    ‘Slam scams’ is the theme for National Consumer Fraud Week 2012 run by the Australian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT).

    Their aim is to educate Australians on the prevalence of scams in everyday life, and the often sophisticated nature of scams.

    Here’s an explanation of the Week as featured on the ACCC’s SCAMwatch website:

    “Have you ever received a phone call or SMS out of the blue, a phishy email or ‘lucky’ letter, an unknown knock at the door or a strange request from an online friend or admirer? National Consumer Fraud Week 2012 runs from 19 to 25 March and is all about raising awareness of scam delivery methods so that you can identify and slam a scam at the point of contact.

    Scammers are increasingly sophisticated in how they deliver scams, taking advantage of new technology and communication methods to try and slip under your radar. Online platforms and mobile technology such as emails, social networking sites, smartphones and tablets make it easier to connect with people around the world and communicate in real time anonymously, privately or publicly. Unfortunately, scammers also take advantage of these benefits to target you.

    Scammers are also not afraid to adopt a personal touch such as contacting you at home on your phone or at your door. They will try and push your buttons by playing on your emotions to evoke a sense of guilt, anxiety or fear. They also use slick tricks such as professional-looking websites or documents, and often pose as someone or an organisation that you know and trust.

    Scammers will use any means to deliver a scam and get you to part with your money or personal details. If you receive a scam, slam it!

    Remember to press delete, throw it out, shut the door or just hang up.

    Tips to keep scammers at arms length

    DON’T RESPOND
         Ignore suspicious emails, letters, house visits, phone calls or SMS – press ‘delete’, throw them out, shut the door or just hang up

    WATCH OUT FOR SLICK TRICKS
         Scammers use sophisticated tricks to fool you such as fake websites, glossy brochures, technical jargon or posing as someone that you know and trust – don’t fall for them!

    DON’T LET SCAMMERS PUSH YOUR BUTTONS
    Scammers will play on your emotions to get what they want

    PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
         Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers

    Fighting fraud: we can all play a part” SCAMwatch says.

    The Sydney Morning Herald has this morning featured scams in this article titled $85m lost in business scams last year:

    “THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission received 83,150 reports of scams from small businesses and consumers in 2011, almost double the number the year before and more than quadruple the number in 2009, according to its annual scam report, to be released today.

    More than $85 million in losses were reported, up 35 per cent.

    Michael Schaper, chairman of the Australian Consumer Fraud Taskforce and deputy chair of the ACCC, said the number of scams was likely to be higher than reported, because many victims were too embarrassed to come forward,” the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

     

    Table from Sydney Morning Herald

    Slam scams and stop credit file misuse

    People need to stop feeling embarrassed that they have fallen victim to scams, and start coming forward about their experiences. Unfortunately many people who are victims of a scam have also given over lots of personal information in the process. This can lead to identity theft and the scammers taking credit out in the victim’s name.

    Embarrassment aside, these victims are stuck unable to take out credit while their credit file shows a series of overdue accounts they had no knowledge of, and are not responsible for. . Not only are scams damaging short term, but the effects can be long-ranging. Victims are unable to take out credit for 5 years while their credit file shows this bad credit history.

    The more these victims are ridiculed for somehow being ‘gullible’ the more they will hide away and not speak out about the instances of scams. Also, the impression that these scams are easy to detect will remain in the wider community.

    We need everyone to know these scams are not obvious. Scammers are clever and they have plenty of patience.

    But if something doesn’t ring true…the best thing people can do is stop the contact, and verify the information of the person before they proceed.

    And remember the golden rule, before giving out money or personal information – no matter who it is – people should do all they can to make that transaction as secure as possible.

    For scam victims…one of the essential tasks to perform while notifying your bank is to check your credit file is not showing any bad credit history put there by scammers.

    If you think you may have been a victim of a scam, talk to us confidentially tollfree on 1300 667 218 or visit the main website www.mycra.com.au about what this could mean for you and your credit file – and how we can help you restore you good name.

    Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Australia’s medical records vulnerable to identity theft

    Australia’s medical records are proposed to go online, in the form of personally controlled e-health records (PCEHR). But there has been much concern over the security of the personal information which will be available online for potential hackers. We examine what this could mean for your identity and your credit file if your details were hacked.

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

    Personally controlled e-health records are currently the subject of a Senate Inquiry, with submissions currently being made into the PCEHR Bills.

    A few days ago, computer emergency response team, AusCERT, expressed its grave concern over the introduction of an e-health system. It told the Senate Inquiry that PCEHR will be wide open to hacking.

    The Australian covered this in its story ‘PCEHR open to hacking, says AusCert.’ An excerpt is below:

    “The current proposal by the Australian government to provide PCEHR over the internet will allow for the exposure of these records to theft and compromise,” AusCERT warned.

    “Online criminals have for many years been attacking PCs at work and home to gain access to the systems and data they desire.

    “There is no reason to think criminals won’t actively target these computers specifically for the benefits they may provide once the PCEHR system goes live (on July 1).”

    AusCERT said fraudsters will be only too keen to harvest “valuable” personal details including full names, dates of birth, current address and Medicare numbers.

    AusCERT’s biggest concern, is that the Federal Health Department cannot ensure the security of every computer using the system:

    It notes that the federal Health department “is promoting the benefits of PCEHR over the internet on the basis that it will be secure”.

    “These statements cannot be assured and are misleading,” it said. “If any end-user computer is already compromised by malicious software, the confidentiality of the PCEHR may be easily compromised…

    AusCERT said the department “appears to be focused on the security of the back-end systems” rather than the endpoint systems and software people will use to connect to the system.

    “At best this is misleading and at worst it is a misrepresentation of the level of risk,” it said.

    “The computer used to connect to the system can be anything from a smartphone, a home PC or laptop, an enterprise PC on a public or private network to a publicly used PC located in an internet kiosk or business lounge.

    “Since 2003 these ‘consumer’ devices have been effectively targeted for compromise typically by criminals for the purpose of identity theft and fraud, with the end result being access to personal identifying information and access credentials stored or processed on these devices.

    “If the computer has been compromised then it is impossible to protect the confidentiality of information.”

    AusCERT put out some alarming statistics from an Australian Communications and Media Authority report from 2010. The ACMA found that some 25,000-30,000 computers are compromised in Australia every day; annually that equates to about 4 million PCs.

    “Imagine if each of these computers had at least one user who had used it to access their PCEHR. That represents potentially millions of records compromised by online criminals.”

    MyCRA has been watching the unfolding of PCEHR with interest. The security of personal information should be a topic argued over extensively in this way whenever personal information is transferred to any form of online setting, and we are glad to see AusCERT has made these concerns known.

    In all instances it is so important for all Australians to be aware that when we are improving the access of personal information, that we are not trading off on the security of that personal information.

    There is the danger of possible data breaches from within any company or organisation, and as AusCERT warned, dangers of possible malicious hacking of personal computers – both of which potentially compromise a the personal information and the very identity of those consumers that use that service.

    Criminals do target home computers – as the ACMA statistics reveal.

    Sometimes fraudsters are lucky enough to gather enough information to resume someone else’s identity. Most times they can then go about taking out credit in the victim’s name, and most identity theft victims don’t even know about it until they attempt to take out credit in their own right and are refused due to a bad credit history they didn’t initiate.

    The problems don’t stop there. The identity theft victim can be in a world of pain trying to recover their good name. Bad credit history is not easy for anyone to clear – let alone the identity theft victim, who would be required to produce police reports and other documentation to prove to creditors they are not responsible for the bad credit history.

    The Government’s Stay Smart Online website offers some ways you can protect your home computer from being compromised by malicious software, or any kind of identity theft attempt. Here is their secure computing checklist:

    1. Use only supported operating systems
    Vendors, including Microsoft, stop supporting operating systems that become dated. New versions offer improved security. Third-party vendors, which make application software for these operating systems, also stop support of older versions.

    2. Enable automatic updates of your operating system
    Automatic updates install small corrections to the operating system. These corrections are known as patches and include security and functionality improvements. When you enable the automatic installation of the fixes, you reduce the chance of exposure to security threats.

    3. Enable a limited-rights account for each user and use it for routine online activities such as browsing the web and reading email
    It is important to use a limited account for daily tasks as many malware authors depend on users running administrator (or privileged user) default accounts.
    Operating as a limited user greatly reduces the effectiveness of many types of malware but this does not mean limited users are protected from malware completely.

    4. Install and update security software that provides functionality for antivirus and anti-spyware software and a personal firewall.
    These products help prevent computers from infection by malware. Make sure that they are configured to update automatically. Do not install more than one product that duplicates any of these functions. Either install a product that combines these functions, or install separate products for each of these functions. For example, install a combined antivirus and anti-spyware product and a separate firewall product.

    5. If using broadband, turn your computer off when not in use.

    6. Secure your email software
    One method of compromising your computer is via email. If you secure your email software, then you greatly reduce your chances of being compromised.

    7. Secure your web browser
    Another risk to your computer is during web browsing. If you secure your web browser, you can reduce the chance of your computer being compromised.

    8. Do not click on links or open attachments in spam email or email that is otherwise suspicious.

    If you, or someone you know has been a victim of identity theft it is important to check your credit file. This will determine whether you have bad credit history as a result of identity fraud. Contact MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs for help with your credit file, and repairing any bad credit history from identity theft.

    PH tollfree 1300 667 218 or info@mycra.com.au or visit our website for more information www.mycra.com.au.

    Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Are 177,000 CHILDREN capable of staying safe on Facebook?

    Parents…are your children on Facebook? We look at what this could mean for them, for you and for your credit file.

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

    An alarming statistic was revealed by a leading West Australian newspaper on Sunday on the possible number of WA children on Facebook who were under 13.

    The Sunday Times revealed in its article “Facebook offers up 150,000 West Australian kids” Perth Now, March 3, 2012 that the Facebook advertising database claims it can reach more than 170,000 children in WA under the age of 13.

    “Facebook allows users access to its database statistics if they’re planning to advertise on their website.

    It says advertisers wanting to target young teens in WA could reach an estimated 177,220 users aged 13 or under.

    Facebook doesn’t let users sign up unless they claim to be over 13. But users often give away their true age by listing information such as the primary school they attend,” the article says.

    This is a global issue. A U.S. Facebook study released in June last year, showed that of the 20 million children on Facebook who actively used the social networking site in the past year, 7.5 million—or more than one-third—were younger than 13 and not supposed to be able to use the site.

    “Among young users, more than 5 million were 10 and under, and their accounts were largely unsupervised by their parents,” the report revealed.

    It also revealed that one million children on Facebook were harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyber-bullying in the past year.

    So what’s happening with our kids? Are they all accessing Facebook in secret? Or are we simply letting them do it – despite government and even Facebook advice to the contrary?

    Apart from the grave dangers of sexual predators and cyber-bullies for our children – we are become more vulnerable to identity theft and being slapped with a bad credit score as a result.

    Identity crime is the fastest growing crime in Australia, according to the Australian Crime Commission. It was reported by former Attorney General Robert McLelland’s office last year, that identity theft affects one in six Australians in some way.

    It’s time to all get a better understanding of the internet. Those who don’t apply meaningful cyber-security measures at home are putting themselves at risk of identity theft, and simply threatening the family’s good credit rating.

    We cannot let our young children have free reign of the computer, regardless of how ‘tech-savvy’ they are.

    Here’s what can happen to anyone, let alone children:

    We can download viruses, participate in scams, release credit card details and disclose personal information and passwords to criminals which can be used to extract money or take out credit in people’s names.

    This can happen through Facebook, it can happen via email, and it can happen via very legitimate looking websites.

    If millions of Australian parents have been fooled, what chance do these 177,000 children under 13 have? That’s what the cyber-crooks are banking on.

    Don’t know the first thing about the internet? If your child does – you need to get to know about it!

    The amount of personal information that many young people have freely available for viewing on Facebook is frightening. That can be information about them, or it can also be about friends and family.

    We may say it is harmless, but what’s to say fraudsters can’t sit on that information and wait until their victims come of age to commit fraud in their name? In fact, authorities say it is happening – they even have a name, it’s called ‘data warehousing’.

    Superintendant Brian Hay from the Queensland Fraud Squad told Channel 7’s Sunrise Program in October last year, that criminals were targeting the personal information of our young Facebook users. and storing the personal information until they turn 18.

    “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 Sunrise.

    Most identity theft victims have no idea they have given away personal information to fraudsters until it is too late. If identity fraud sees accounts in the victim’s name going undetected and unpaid past 60 days, the parent’s credit file can be ruined for 5-7 years due to defaults.

    It need not be major fraud to be a massive blow to the identity theft victim – leading to a bad credit score. Unpaid accounts for as little as $100 can lead to a bad credit score and have the same impact on getting a loan. So any misuse of someone’s credit file can be extremely significant.

    For parents who want to educate themselves about the risks of cyber-crime, the Government has put together the CyberSmart website, encouraging parents and kids to be aware of the dangers the internet may pose for children. A Cyber Smart fact-sheet for this age group recommends the close monitoring of all children’s internet use.

    And importantly, if young people of any age are on Facebook, educate them and yourself about what that could mean for them and for you.

    If people suspect identity theft has affected their credit file, they can contact MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs www.mycra.com.au or call tollfree on 1300 667 218 for help restoring their good name and clearing their bad credit score following identity theft.

    Image: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image: Ambro/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • FREE paper shredder and Identity theft kit to all new MyCRA clients

    Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in Australia, and it is one which can DIRECTLY lead to a bad credit score.

    If fraudsters are able to assume someone’s identity, they may be able to take out credit in the victim’s name – leaving them with a long list of defaults they have to PROVE they weren’t responsible for!!!

    It is essential that all credit file holders safeguard their personal information and protect themselves from identity theft, preventing an unnecessary bad credit score.

    For this reason, MyCRA Credit Repairs are GIVING AWAY paper shredders, and with that, an extensive 5-page Identity Theft Kit, plus a quick one-page questionnaire to help clients get up to speed with where they may be lacking in identity theft security.

    The paper shredder, the Identity Kit and the questionnaire will be available to any clients who sign up with us today and pay a mimumum $200 non-refundable payment.

    The full $200 will be credited directly to the client’s credit repairs costs.

    No client should put up with what a bad credit score does to their life if they don’t have to!

    If there are inconsistencies on a person’s credit file there is a good chance they can be removed.

    In the past, MyCRA has achieved up to 91.7% default removal of all cases we take on…could this be you or your client?

    So START NOW and get on board TODAY to receive this unique offer – we are saving a client’s credit file now, as well as the clear credit file they will have in the future.

    Limited numbers apply, and only for a limited time.

    Thanks – Graham Doessel, MyCRA Credit Repairs, www.fixmybadcredit.com.au

    Terms and conditions apply – see us for details.

     

    Image: Chris Sharp / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

     

  • They’re back…..MICROSOFT PHONE SCAM WARNING

    Fraudsters are AGAIN targeting people with home computers and calling with an offer to fix viruses supposedly on their computers. Don’t get caught out! We explain what that scam involves, and how falling for this scam can lead to loss of monies, identity theft and ultimately a bad credit score.

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

    In June last year we warned you about a ‘Microsoft phone scam’ which was rampant in Australia. Fake computer security engineers were contacting people by phone, offering to fix’problems’ they had detected on their computers.

    Callers claiming to be from ‘Windows technical support’, who knew the victim’s name and address were claiming to see problems with the victim’s computer and asking whether the victim had noticed their computer becoming slower recently.

    Then they were asking to take over the machine and fix the problems.

    A warning from the government’s Stay Smart Online alerts today reveals this scam is still continuing to swindle unsuspecting computer owners. The scammers are using legitimate remote access sotftware, such as LogMeIn, TeamView and Ammyy.

    The ACCC’S SCAMwatch website also warned consumers about the dangers of this scam back in June 2010.

    “There are many potential dangers. As well as losing money to the scammer by paying for a service that provides you no benefits, your personal and banking details are also at risk. If you give a scammer remote access to your computer, they can cause all sorts of mischief – including infecting your computer and acquiring your personal information,” the website says.

    When a fraudster is able to access our personal information they can do a host of things with it, including using it to commit identity theft. Creating fake ID, they are then able to take out credit in our name, having no care for the bad credit score they are leaving behind for the victim.

    How it occurs:

    We generally have no knowledge of the identity theft until it is too late, and we have a series of late payments against our name, which ultimately go to default stage.

    Some identity theft victims can have a string of bad credit that shouldn’t be there, but which ruins their financial future – as they show up with a bad credit score. They can’t get a loan, they can’t get a credit card, they can’t even take out a mobile phone plan or get utility account.

    If you do suspect you have been scammed, firstly you should report the potential identity theft to the Police. There is going to be no way of repairing your bad credit score without Police reports.

    Secondly, obtain a copy of your credit file, to ensure you do not already have a bad credit score resulting from identity theft. A copy of your credit file is free once every 12 months from one or more of the credit reporting agencies in Australia.

    It may also be a good idea to more regularly request a copy of your credit file. You can even alert credit reporting agencies, and your financial institution that you may be subject to identity theft, and they can ‘flag’ your accounts to alert you to any suspicious entries.

    If you do find you have a bad credit score due to identity theft, you should contact a professional credit repairer. They can help you recover your good name in the least possible time, with the most knowledge of credit reporting legislation and with the best ability to negotiate with creditors on your behalf.

    What to do to protect yourself from this phone scam

    Microsoft Australia released a statement last year, warning Australians about these fraudsters, who conduct themselves in a professional manner, and sound genuine.

    They gave this advice to Microsoft customers:

    • Be suspicious of unsolicited calls related to a security problem, even if they claim to represent a respected company.
    •Never provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller.
    •Do not go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue.
    •Take the caller’s information down and pass it to the authorities.
    •Use up-to-date versions of Windows and application software.
    •Make sure security updates are installed regularly.
    •Use a strong password and change it regularly.
    •Make sure the firewall is turned on and that antivirus software is installed and up to date.

    Visit our website, www.mycra.com.au or call us tollfree on 1300 667 218. MyCRA Credit Repairs is a professional credit repairer that can help with repairing your credit file following identity theft, or give you more information to safeguard your good name.

     

  • Job and employment scam: Identity theft revealed at Shock Entertainment

    Music company Shock Entertainment’s new GM, Scot Crawford has revealed today he has been a victim of identity theft and has warned readers scammers are trying to steal personal information under the guise of employment for the company. We look at the details of this scam, how to recognise job and employment scams and how falling for them can lead to identity fraud and potentially a bad credit score for years to come.

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

    themusic.com.au reports:

    Shock sent out a media release today alerting that despite a lot of changes in the music company recently, “the current emails circulating from newly appointed General Manager Scot Crawford offering $1500 a month for a few hours work a day is an unfortunate case of on-line identity theft.”

    The emails are coming from a bogus gmail account – by an individual pretending to be the General Manager.

    The emails read, “This is Scot Crawford from Shock Entertainment, you have recently bought an item from us. I am recruiting a few people, from our recent customers for a payment processing team in Australia. The average income is around $1500 per month. Drop me a line if you’re interested and available 1 – 2 hours per day.”

    The offer seems – and is – too good to be true.

    The emails were circulating over the weekend and Shock have advised that police have been informed about them.

    Crawford said today, “It’s a pretty lousy situation to be in, but is being addressed by the police and we are expect a speedy resolution.”

    How job and employment scams operate:

    The ACCC’s SCAMWatch website warns against job and employment scams:

    “Job and employment scams target people looking for a new job or a change of job. They often promise a lot of income (sometimes they even guarantee it) for not a lot of work.

    You should be very careful of someone who uses spam email or ads posted in the street to employ people. They are often only interested in earning money from you!”

    SCAMWatch encourage job seekers to do their homework before responding to an advertisement guaranteeing employment or a certain income:

    “ask yourself why somebody would use spam emails to recruit people? Is the company reputable and well-known? Could the offer be part of a scam?   Very few, if any, reputable businesses offer guaranteed jobs or income through spam emails. Any job offer you receive through a spam email is likely to be a scam. For other types of advertising, you should still be very careful.”

    They also warn job hunters to do their homework on even seemingly legitimate job advertisements:

    Find out what the job actually involves and what evidence they have to support their claim that you are guaranteed a certain level of income. You should check with your fair trading agency who might be able to help you decide if the offer is legitimate.”

    Job and employment scams – how falling for them can damage your clear credit file:

    When a person falls for a job and employment scam, they have generally answered a ‘job ad’ possibly giving over a resume containing a significant amount of personal information to fraudsters – including potentially the victim’s full name, date of birth, address and past employment history.

    Personal information which could allow fraudsters to commit identity theft. There is no telling how much credit the fraudster could then take out in the victim’s name.

    For any damage to a person’s credit rating, whether instigated by the credit file holder themselves through late payments or a bad credit score from identity fraud, recovering a clear credit file and fixing credit problems is never easy for the individual to undertake.

    The identity theft victim’s clear credit file is even more difficult to restore, simply because there is the burden of proof. First the victim has to prove they didn’t initiate the credit themselves. This would require documentary evidence and Police reports. But the identity theft victim would be virtually banned from obtaining credit until they are able to wade through the mess that has been created for them on their credit report, and clear their good name.  Until such time they are unable to take out a home loan, get a credit card or even take out a mobile phone plan. A bad credit score can be very debilitating on top of all the other dangers and costs associated with fraudsters committing identity theft.

    If you have been a victim of a job and employment scam and suspect identity theft, it is important to contact Police immediately. It is also important to alert your financial institutions and even the credit reporting agencies so they can ‘flag’ your credit file and bank accounts and be alert to any suspicious activity.

    If you find out your credit rating has been affected, get professional credit repair. You may do more harm than good to your case trying to fix credit problems without a good strong knowledge of credit reporting law and procedures.

    Contact MyCRA Credit Repairs on 1300 667 218 or visit the main website www.mycra.com.au, we can review your credit report, help in negotiations with creditors and get you on your way to a clear credit file once again.

    Image: Dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • The dead not protected from identity theft

    Even in grief identity theft can strike us and affect our credit file and the clear credit file of those we leave behind. Grieving relatives may need to protect themselves and their loved one’s good name against this fraud, following a recent spate of identity theft of deceased individuals.

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

    There are so many things to think about when someone dies and it is very unfair that grieving relatives need to think about possible identity fraud on top of everything else, but the fact is it may be necessary to protect not only their memory, but the good credit file of the living.

    Last year a Sydney court sentenced a man and a woman to two years jail for identity theft.

    The Courier Mail ran details of the story in September last year, in which the court heard the couple “spent nine years trawling cemeteries across Australia collecting the details of dead people, with Queensland targets including a disabled man and a baby less than two days old.”

    “The couple created fake “identity kits” using the details of the deceased, including bogus passports, Medicare cards, drivers’ licences and bank accounts, which they sold to criminals for up to $30,000 each”, the story said.

    In October, The Australian ran a story ‘Backlog of births, death records prone to identity theft’, detailing the possible prevalence of these instances of ID Theft. It told of data processing backlogs at some government birth, deaths and marriages registries that have left the door open for fraudsters to assume the identities of dead Australians.

    The fixing of the identity loophole had been delayed by a dispute with developer UXC, whose contract with the NSW Registry was terminated in 2009. The registry said it had received $2.9 million in damages as a result.

    A new contract had now been negotiated with Objective Consulting for $11.4m, with the first release of a new registry due in June next year.

    Queensland too is yet to digitise its birth, death and marriages records to enable automatic cross-checking between births and deaths data.

    “The project is currently in the final stages of contract negotiation with digitisation currently scheduled to run from early 2012 to 2014,” a Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry spokeswoman said.

    Queensland’s 2009-10 budget had allocated $20.8m for digitisation of records.

    The spokeswoman said when digitised, its operators would be required to complete an electronic search of Queensland death records before releasing a birth certificate.

    Software developer John Doolan, who has worked with birth, deaths and marriages registries across the Australian eastern seaboard for more than 20 years, said the enormous backlog in unmatched birth and death records was a headache.

    “We are aware of cases of false identities that have been created and stolen,” said Mr Doolan, the chief executive of KE Software, which has different versions of its software operating in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

    The ability of a person involved in immigration fraud, tax evasion, social security rorts and even terrorism to obtain a legitimate birth certificate by using a dead person’s identity is still possible at these registries.

    While states are rushing to digitise this process, relatives should be aware of how a deceased person’s personal information could be compromised, and act quickly to protect their  credit file and good name in death.

    – Relatives can start by obtaining several copies of their loved one’s death certificate, and providing one to each credit reporting agency in Australia. The credit reporting agency can then ‘flag’ the credit file so that no future credit is issued in that name.

    – Also pay particular attention to how much information is given away in the obituary. As in life, in death, personal information is a valuable commodity. Restrict the publication of any details which could allow fraudsters to piece together details to create a false identity.

    – It is also important to provide a death certificate to financial institutions and notify all other credit facilities of the death, particularly where joint accounts may be involved. This could prevent the other person attached to the joint account of the deceased having their clear credit file compromised by possible identity theft.

    If fraudsters gain access to someone’s good name – living or dead they may be able to drain bank accounts, or open new lines of credit in the person’s name.

    Often people don’t find out about the identity fraud until they attempt to take out credit and then find out they have a bad credit score due to a series of defaults they have no knowledge of. It was reported that in the case heard by the Sydney courts, the names of the deceased were used to create false Medicare cards, birth certificates, drivers’ licences, bank accounts and credit cards. Forged documentation and identities were sold to criminals, including members of the Lone Wolf bikie gang, so they could apply for passports.

    Any kind of credit account (from mortgages and credit cards through to mobile phone accounts) which remains unpaid past 60 days can be listed as a default by creditors on the victim’s credit rating, and those defaults remain there for 5 years.

    Relatives left with the task of trying to repair the credit file of their deceased, particularly the credit files of joint account owners can find the task a difficult one. To restore the clear credit file the identity theft victim needs to prove to creditors they did not initiate the credit. Not only are victims generally required to produce police reports, but large amounts of documentary evidence to substantiate to creditors the case of identity theft.

    If people need help credit rebuilding and restoring credit activeness following identity theft, please contact MyCRA Credit Repairs tollfree on 1300 667 218 or visit the main website www.mycra.com.au

    Credit rebuilding is not easy for anyone to undertake themselves, particularly those who are facing grief. Many times when restoring credit individuals will be told that listings can be marked as paid, but this does not give the victim a clear credit file.

    Using a credit repairer skilled in credit reporting legislation will help to enforce rules creditors are bound to comply with, and coupled with negotiations will ensure the best chance at a clear credit file.

    Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

     

  • Safer Internet Day February 7 2012: be cyber-smart for a future clear credit file

    How to be cybersmart – that’s an important topic. On February 7, Australians have the opportunity to raise awareness as to how children and parents alike can be smart on the internet. This is essential for many reasons, one of which is to preserve our personal information, our financial identities and our clear credit file. Cyber-smart are hosting ‘Safer Internet Day’ with this year’s theme, ‘connecting generations and educating each other’, focusing on promoting a dialogue on online safety amongst all generations.

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

    Cybersmart’s key messages for schools, libraries and families this Safer Internet Day are:
    •Talk about online safety—with all members of your family and school community
    •Protect Your Privacy—check your privacy settings and update your software
    •Educate yourself about the online world—check out the Cybersmart resources.

    How can a young person’s clear credit file be put at risk from their internet use?

    Our young people need to be cyber-smart and also, young people need to be credit-savvy to get along in this modern world.

    One issue we wish to highlight to help young people stay smart online is for them to be aware of the ways in which they can be putting their clear credit file at risk every time they post information publicly on the internet, even before they are credit-active.

    It’s unfortunate that teenagers in Australia today are not immune to identity fraud. Even though they are not yet 18, the personal information that is made public today could be used against them in the future.

    Many teenagers do not know the risks of having a public ‘profile’ on sites like Facebook and Twitter, but fraudsters do. With the volume of personal information that is publicly available about our young people on social network sites, what’s to say fraudsters can’t pull that information and use it to build a profile that could allow them to create a fake identity?

    A young person who becomes the vicitm of identity theft could have their clear credit file ruined for five years. They may not even get a chance to get a mobile phone or take out a credit card themselves.

    Late last year, the Australian Federal Police’s national co-ordinator of identity security strike team, Ben McQuillan spoke about the dangers of identity crime at a forum on money laundering and terrorism.

    He warned forum listeners about the new trend of ‘data 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,” Mr McQuillan told the Sydney Morning Herald.

    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 to the young person’s clear credit file. Credit file defaults for as little as $100 can stop someone from being able to obtain credit. So any misuse of someone’s credit file can be extremely significant.

    Repairing bad credit, even following identity theft is not easy. 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 clear credit file.

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

    The government’s ‘stay smart online’ website offers some top tips about using the internet which can be discussed with young people at home and school:

    Top tips

    Make sure your computer is secure—follow the advice in the Secure your computer section of this [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”][stay smart online] website.

    Set strong passwords, particularly for important online accounts and change them regularly—consider making a diary entry to remind yourself.

    Stop and think before you share any personal or financial information—about you, your friends or family. Don’t disclose identity information (drivers licence, Medicare No, birth date, address) through email or online unless you have initiated the contact and you know the other person involved.

    Don’t give your email address out without needing to. Think about why you are providing it, what the benefit is for you and whether it will mean you are sent emails you don’t want.

    Be very suspicious of emails from people you don’t know, particularly if they promise you money, good health or a solution to all your problems. The same applies for websites. Remember, anything that looks too good to be true usually is.

    Limit the amount and type of identity information you post on social networking sites. Don’t put sensitive, private or confidential information on your public profile.

    When shopping online use a secure payment method such as PayPal, BPay, or your credit card. Avoid money transfers and direct debit, as these can be open to abuse. Never send your bank or credit card details via email.

    When using a public computer, don’t submit or access any sensitive information online. Public computers may have a keystroke logger installed which can capture your password, credit card number and bank details.

    We encourage anyone who is interested in protecting their identity and their clear credit file whilst online to visit the stay smart online website regularly, and if people have children, the Cybersmart website is essential reading for both the young person and parent.

    Get involved in the Safer Internet Day, and help educate someone you know about online safety.

    If you require further information about maintaining a clear credit file or repairing bad credit, visit our main site www.mycra.com.au or call us tollfree on 1300 667 218.

    Image: imagerymajestic/ FreeDigitalphotos.net[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • 5 things every young person needs to know about credit

    It’s back to school for most teenagers in Australia. Here is a lesson you might not learn there…Just because you currently aren’t credit active, does not mean you can’t learn about how to make credit work best for you when you are. We show you how the actions you take NOW could lead to being unable to get a phone, a home, a car in the future because of a surprise bad credit rating.

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

    We believe this important financial information should be taught in high schools across the country. So if you know a student or young adult, flick them this link or print this page. We want all young Australians to have the luxury of a clear credit rating when they turn 18 and beyond.

    1. What is a credit rating?

    Once you turn 18, and become ‘credit active’, a credit file is initiated in your name. This contains all financial information on you, including any credit you have taken out, the amount of credit, and any negative listings – like court Judgments, writs, bankruptcies, clear outs, and defaults. A default occurs when an account has not been paid more than 60 days, and the creditor (bank, telephone company, electricity company etc) places a record of this ‘default’ on your credit file to alert future creditors. A clear out is when the creditors are unable to get hold of you over late payments, agents have been sent to your house and they record this as a ‘clear out’. By accessing your credit file, a potential creditor can assess your credit rating, based on any negative listings which are present there.

    2. What happens to me if my credit file has negative listings on it?

    Generally, a negative listing on your credit file tells banks or other people you might want to borrow money or services from, that you have had problems repaying credit in the past. They will most often decide that you are a bad ‘risk’ to lend money to, and will refuse you the car, money, credit card, electricity account or mobile phone plan.

    A negative listing stays on your credit file for 5-7 years, depending on the listing and ‘drops off’ after this time. A negative listing will affect you for the entire time it is present on your credit file. You need to ask yourself: what do I want to be doing in 5 years????

    3. How do I end up with a negative listing on my credit file?

    It is estimated there are approximately 3.47 million Australians with negative entries on their credit file. (Veda Advantage 2008).
    The most common negative listing is a default. This is put there when you don’t pay your bills on time.
    But there are other reasons why you could have a negative listing, which are not always completely your fault.

    Change of address. Sometimes people move and their mail continues to be sent to the old address. This is a really common scenario, particularly for young people who tend to move around a lot, or go overseas. The problem is – you don’t know your bills are late and don’t know you are being defaulted. It is important to update contact information regularly with anyone you have taken credit out with. No news is not good news!!!

    Identity theft. Sometimes people’s personal information can be used for purposes of fraud – for crooks to construct a fake identity, and use it to take out credit. The thing is, they are using your name so you are the one that ends up with the bad credit rating, and it can be a nightmare to recover the good credit rating you once had.

    It is important to keep all your personal information as secure as possible. One important change you can make right now, is to change the way you use the internet.

    Keep your passwords and social networking settings as strong as possible.

    The information you post today, could come back to haunt you in a big way.

    There are reports from Australian Federal Police of the likelihood of crooks scrolling through thousands of social networking pages looking for personal information from young people – who usually have the most lax privacy settings. That information is not used right away, but the data is ‘warehoused’ until the young people turn 18. They can then use that information to construct a fake identity (identity theft) and go on a ‘spending spree’ with the young person’s clean credit file. You could be ruined by identity theft before you even take out your first piece of credit yourself.

    Share accommodation. Any accounts which have your name on them, regardless of who intends to pay them are your responsibility – this includes rent. Sometimes people get caught out sharing houses, and someone leaves bills unpaid which then have dire consequences for your future.

    Mistakes. Sometimes mistakes happen. The wrong person gets the bad credit rating. The wrong details get put in the computer. Creditors are human. Don’t let a mistake affect your credit file.

    Too many credit enquiries. Only apply for credit you feel you have a very good chance of being approved for, and only apply for credit you have full intention of pursuing. Sometimes too many credit queries are enough to get you declined for credit.

    4. How do I know what is said about me on my credit file?

    Many people don’t know this, but it is so important for everyone to keep track of the accuracy of your own credit file. To avoid the disappointment and embarrassment of finding out about your bad credit rating only after being declined credit, we recommend you check your credit file every 12 months to ensure there are no black marks against your name, just as you would check your bank statements or your super account.

    You can request a copy of your credit file for free from the major credit reporting agencies – Veda Advantage, Dun & Bradstreet, or Tasmanian Collection Services (if you are Tasmanian). Your credit report will be provided within 10 working days – or for a fee it can be provided urgently.

    5. What do I do if something is not right – there are errors on my credit report?

    Don’t put up with any errors or inconsistencies on your credit report – a clear credit rating is your ticket to financial freedom.

    Most times a credit reporting agency will tell you that defaults are never removed, but can be marked as paid. You are then stuck with a dodgy credit rating for 5 years. But you shouldn’t have to put up with it, as it is possible to have many defaults removed.

    If there are errors, inconsistencies, or the listing should not be there, you do have the right to have it removed. The best course of action is to ask for help from a credit rating repairer. They can then use their knowledge of credit reporting legislation to see where any errors in credit reporting were made, and help to enforce the legislation that creditors are bound to comply with. If they are successful, you not only get help with removing credit file errors, but many times you are able to start off with a completely clean credit rating. You have a clean slate and can go for any credit you need.

    For more information contact MyCRA Credit Repairs tollfree on 1300 667 218 or visit the main website.

    Image: imagerymajestic / Freedigitalphotos.net

    Image: David Castillo Dominici / Freedigitalphotos.net

  • Gamers need to know identity theft risks

    The massive increase in gaming popularity comes with a price, as gamers unknowingly expose themselves more and more to identity theft. The cyber-crime world is alert to any potential places where personal information can be extracted easily and used to steal money, identities, and ultimately take advantage of good credit ratings.

    By GRAHAM DOESSEL Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    We like to alert readers to any places where their personal information may be at risk.

    Recently, a security expert, Michael Sentonas warned ABC’s gaming readers of the need to keep their personal information safe. In the article ‘Cyber threats a reality in online gaming.’ One area of threat he identifies is data breach. He says the Sony Playstation data breach was a major example of how gamer’s personal information can easily be compromised.

    Sony Australia confirmed in April last year that the personal information of all PlayStation Network account holders worldwide had fallen into the wrong hands. All users were at grave risk of identity theft with the hackers having access to all names, addresses, email addresses, birthdates, usernames, passwords, logins, security questions and more. The NSW Police fraud squad said it was enough information for the hackers to even take out loans on the vicitms’ behalf. Luckily, there were no Australian cases of credit card or identity fraud eventuating from the attack.

    Aside from data breaches, Sentonas pinpoints some of the ways individual gamers can be put at risk:

    “Gamers who mainly engage in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) such as World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2 and Final Fantasy XIV and social networking games via Facebook have several common threats to watch out for including gold keylogging, phishing and gaming bots.

    Gold keylogging aims to steal “gold” (the currency and valuables a gamer accumulates within a game) and often manifests itself as a Trojan disguising itself as a normal application. A keylogging Trojan tracks the keys typed on a keyboard while the person using the keyboard is unaware. This allows the hacker to obtain your login and password information. A keylogging virus fulfils the same aim however it is designed to replicate itself and spread from computer to computer.

    Phishing on the other hand is a much more direct form of cybercrime that occurs via email or instant messaging. The email or instant message looks identical to the game’s official service and will pop up during a game or appear in your email inbox for example. Phishers attempt to acquire people’s personal information, such as banking details or logins and passwords. They pretend to be an honest business distributing an apparently official electronic communication. A typical phishing email asks you to ‘renew your registration / account’. Reputable businesses will not send you random emails or pop ups asking for your personal or financial information.

    While gaming bots may not be a direct cyber threat in terms of stealing personal information or attacking bank accounts, they have a clear advantage over real life players in online gaming. Most bots usually play with far higher accuracy than most real life players which essentially constitutes cheating. Players also use gaming bots to control their character while they are away from their computer or console. This allows them to keep the account running to enable the player to accumulate money, objects and experience without having to be in front of the screen,” Sentonas says.

    He also warns about the security threats ensuing from mobile devices, which are virtual portable PC’s, at risk of the same if not more security threats than people’s actual computer. Sentonas explains how gamers can be at risk from their smartphone:

    “Users should mainly be looking out for malicious mobile apps and games. Some apps are specifically designed with malicious components to secretly track users’ phone calls, text messages and emails to gather potentially sensitive data. Dangerous apps are usually offered for free and masquerade as fun applications. For example, last year 4.6 million Android smartphone users downloaded a suspicious wallpaper app that collected and transmitted user data to a site in China,” he says.

    He recommends a couple of vital ways gamers can protect themselves against these threats. Gamers should only install apps and games from official stores from their platforms of choice. He also says a little research such as reading user reviews and checking into the developer would go a long way in protecting against identity theft.

    “To help protect your disc-based games, we recommend making reliable backup copies of your saved games (using a USB flash drive) to protect your investment. Avoid storing personal information on the gaming device and consider using security software that protects PCs, tablets and smartphones as well. If children play online games, we recommend parents educate their children to not play with strangers over the internet. Parents should also consider activity-monitoring tools and utilising built-in parental controls,” Sentonas says.

    The threats and ramifications of identity theft are real and debilitating. Currently it is the fastest growing crime in Australia, with 1 in 6 people reporting being affected by it. If credit is taken out by fraudsters in the victim’s name, they can end up with their bank accounts emptied or at worse, defaults on their credit file – and this is not easy to recover from. First the victim has to prove they didn’t initiate the credit themselves. This would require documentary evidence and Police reports. But the identity theft victim would be virtually banned from obtaining credit until they are able to wade through the mess that has been created for them on their credit report, and clear their good name.

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

    Image: David Castillo Dominici/ Freedigitalphotos.net

  • How to prevent identity theft and keep your clean credit rating

    Identity theft is an ever-increasing cause of a bad credit rating. We answer some of the most common questions people have about identity crime and explain how it can affect your credit file. By GRAHAM DOESSEL CEO of MyCRA Credit Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    8 Most Common Questions about Identity Crime Answered

    1. Who is affected by identity crime?

    It is reported that 1 in 6 people in Australia is a victim or knows someone who has been a victim of identity theft or fraud in the past 6 months.

    Victims are not always ‘gullible’ as may be the impression in the wider community. Many experts say it is not a matter of if you experience an identity theft attempt, but when.

    2. Who commits identity theft or fraud?

    It can originate from someone you know – for example an acquaintance obtains identity documents or credit card details to impersonate you. Or more increasingly it comes from professional fraudsters whose main occupation is to steal personal information and financial details in order to commit fraud.

    3. Where does identity theft originate?

    Fraudsters are after your personal information. The internet is a big source of personal information and its ever increasing use makes you more vulnerable to identity crime than ever. This means identity crime can have very long arms – often it originates from overseas crime syndicates. Social networking, online banking, company databases and email scams can all be havens for today’s cyber- criminal.

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

    4. Why is identity theft increasing?

    The pay-offs are huge for criminals. It is estimated identity crime costs Australians $1 billion a year.* In cyber circles alone, world estimated costs for cybercrime are staggering.

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

    “Traditional bank robbers must be absolutely gobsmacked when they hear sums like this being hoovered up by cyber-criminals week in, week out,” he says.

    5. How can I be affected by identity crime?

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

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

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

    If credit accounts are not repaid – after 60 days you may be issued with written notification of non-payment and the intention for the creditor to list a default on your credit file. It is at this moment that some people who were previously unaware of any problems find out they have been victims of this more sophisticated type of identity theft.

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

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

    Some signs to watch out for include:

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

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

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

    Credit refusal

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

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

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

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

    Notify creditors. You may need to cancel credit accounts.

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

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

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

    8. What steps can I take to prevent identity theft?

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

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

    – Keep 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.

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

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

    – Buy a safe for your personal information at home.

    – 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.

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

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

    – Check your credit file regularly.

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

    * OECD Committee on Consumer Policy, Online Identity Theft, February 2009, p. 37

    Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Australia Day – New Australians left in the dark over credit system

    Media Release

    New Australians left in the dark over credit system

    24 January 2012
    Australia Day is the time when thousands of new Australians are welcomed into the country’s dynamic multi-cultural society, but a national credit repairer says the road to financial success in Australia can be a harsh one for new migrants.
    He says new Australians don’t get enough help to make the most of their finances, and to ensure they are never blacklisted once they become credit-active.
    MyCRA’s CEO, Graham Doessel says he deals first-hand with many new migrants who have struggled to come to terms with a credit system which is far different to the one they are used to, and ultimately their Australian credit rating can suffer.
    “I am seeing more new Australians caught out with the system here, being banned from new credit – can’t get a home or car loan and often from fairly small amounts in arrears on their credit accounts,” Mr Doessel says.
    Australia’s credit reporting system is fairly unique in the fact that it is currently a negative reporting system. There is no way of balancing out a bad credit report with good repayments, and any negative listing remains on a person’s credit file for 5-7 years.
    Once an individual is 18 and is credit-active, they have a credit file issued in their name. It is even at this early stage where some new migrants come unstuck. Sometimes in those early stages the credit file can be issued under the wrong name.
    “Creditors have been known to mix up names or put someone’s last name as their first name. This could potentially open up a can of worms in terms of correct listing,” he says.
    Creditors can also place a default on the wrong person’s file.
    “We have a case at the moment where a lady had a default listing placed on her file which was for a male with a similar name. It wasn’t until our client applied for a loan that she found out about the default placed on her file from someone else’s account,” he says.
    It is suggested that new Australians make a point of ensuring continuity with their name on any credit they take out and requesting changes to any bills or documentation which come back incorrect.
    They should also check their credit file to make sure everything reads correctly.
    “It’s actually not just new Aussies who are kept in the dark. Many Australian-born Aussies are unaware they should be checking their credit file regularly and that they can obtain a credit report for free every 12 months,” Mr Doessel says.
    Many people are unaware that once an account goes past 60 days in arrears, it will be listed as a default on the person’s credit file for 5 years.
    A common reason people can have defaults go unnoticed is after they move house or when they go overseas for extended holidays. They fail to divert their mail, and do not receive the written notification of either the late account, or the creditor’s intention to list the late payment as a default on the person’s credit file.
    “Identity theft is a major problem in this country, and many new migrants are not aware of the frequency of attacks, or the need to safeguard their personal information. They end up with their identities stolen, and credit taken out in their name,” Mr Doessel says.
    Sometimes migrants can become victims of identity theft before they even get on the plane. In December, 2010 Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen warned new migrants of online scams that often leave them without a visa and at a loss for the money they have spent. (2)
    “It is vital that people are aware of fraudsters’ tricks before handing over money for immigration assistance which is never provided,” Mr Bowen said.
    Mr Doessel is offering new migrants free information on using credit in Australia, and how they can best keep their credit file clean. Contact info@mycra.com.au or call tollfree 1300 667 218 for more information.
    “We should use Australia Day to help our fellow Aussies, and raise awareness of the problems our new migrants face, so we can all experience financial success,” he says.
    /ENDS.
    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations   Mob: 0450 554 007     media@mycra.com.au
    Graham Doessel – Director 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.

  • Telstra’s at it again. And this time it may affect YOU.

    Your credit file could be affected by errors in the telecommunications industry…here is a media release we sent out last month about a significant data breach which occured with Telstra’s customer files. We are eager to see what the Privacy Commissioner’s findings will be on this incident.

    Media Release

    12 December 2011

    A massive data breach of Telstra’s customer database has potentially put around 800,000 of its customers at grave risk of having their passwords stolen and their personal information pilfered by identity thieves.

    The data breach which occurred last Friday, saw detailed personal information which was supposed to be available to Telstra customer service agents only, exposed and openly accessible on the internet.

    The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday a user of the Whirlpool forum stumbled upon the “Telstra bundles request search” page after doing a Google search for a Telstra customer support phone number they were told to contact.[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]

    SMH reported the information of any Telstra customer was searchable even by last name, bringing up the customer’s account number, what broadband plan they were on, what other Telstra services they were signed up to and notes associated with the customers’ accounts including in many cases their usernames and passwords.

    There were also other details about technician visits, SMS messages sent to private mobile numbers and credit check details.

    Telstra has reportedly reset approximately 60,000 customer passwords as a precaution.[ii]

    Telstra bundle customer, Graham Doessel is one of those potentially at risk.

    He also happens to be the CEO of a company dealing in credit repair for people who have been unlawfully blacklisted from borrowing facilities. He says as much as 50% of his clientele who present with credit file errors and inconsistencies are Telco customers, and many of those are Telstra customers.

    “This data breach is a crucial example of how errors occur so easily in the Telco industry. Unfortunately they have the potential to severely damage someone’s financial future.”

    “Every day we deal with customers who can’t get a home loan, because their credit rating is damaged by improper execution of policies and procedures in the Telco industry,” Mr Doessel, of MyCRA Credit Repairs says.

    Mr Doessel is concerned he is amongst those Telstra customers whose personally identifiable information may have been viewed, and copied for purposes of fraud during the time the information was readily available on the internet.

    “The issue is about both our possible stolen passwords, and our possible stolen personal details – a huge commodity for fraudsters. What’s to say fraudsters haven’t jumped on the internet while this information has been available and copied it?”

    “Personal details are the building blocks for constructing a fake identity. Once someone has fake ID documents, they can take out significant amounts of credit in the victim’s name. Often people don’t find out about it straight away and that can result in defaults from creditors and massive long term credit issues,” he says.

    Mr Doessel recommends anyone who feels they may be at risk by this data breach take a few precautionary steps to ensure their credit file is protected:

    1. Change passwords. Even if Telstra hasn’t advised you otherwise, go in and change your password. If you have that same password for unrelated accounts, change that as well.

    2. Contact creditors and advise them you may be at risk of identity theft. This will allow them to ‘flag’ your accounts and halt any suspicious activity.

    3. Check your credit file. Obtain a free copy of your credit file and check there is nothing suspicious already present on your credit file.

    4. Alert credit reporting agencies. They can put an alert on your credit file which informs you of any changes to contact details, or suspicious credit enquiries you may not have initiated.

    The Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim made a statement yesterday:

    “I have opened a formal investigation into the Telstra data breach. At a briefing today Telstra has assured our office that the immediate problem has been rectified and that personal data is no longer accessible.

    I have asked that Telstra also provide me with a detailed written report on the incident, including how it occurred, what information, if any, was compromised and what steps they have taken to prevent a reoccurrence. I will consider all the information provided by Telstra and hope to be in a position to issue an investigation report in late January 2012,” Mr Pilgrim says.

    It is uncertain exactly what and or how much the Privacy Commissioner could determine Telstra would be liable for.

    A recent decision handed down by the Privacy Commissioner only last week, saw one individual complainant awarded $7500 in compensation after a Leagues Club was found to have breached their privacy.[iii]

    This is not the first time a major data breach has occurred with Telstra. In October 2010, a mailing error saw around 60,000 letters containing personal customer information sent to other customers.

    The Privacy Commissioner found the privacy of Telstra customers was only breached in 2010 due to human error, and did not occur due to any systemic failure of Telstra’s processes or procedures, therefore they were not required to pay damages in this instance.[iv]

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

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

    Graham Doessel – Director info@mycra.com.au

    http://www.mycra.com.au/ 246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD. Ph: 07 3124 7133 www.fixmybadcredit.com.au

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

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