MyCRA Specialist Credit Repair Lawyers

Tag: privacy commissioner

  • Privacy Commissioner Investigates Sony Data Breach

    On April 27 I posted about the Sony PlayStation data breach which occurred on April 17 and has possibly affected PlayStation users worldwide.

    To update this issue, yesterday the Australian Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim revealed findings from his initial investigation into the data breach:

    “Yesterday, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) advised me it had discovered that hackers may have obtained SOE customer information. SOE has said that the information was held in an out dated database from 2007 and contained approximately 12,700 non-US customer credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates.  It is unclear at this point how many of these customers are Australian citizens or recipients.”

    Australian Victim Ot The Sony PlayStation Identity Theft Issue Lost $2000

     “This latest incident is extremely worrying. I am particularly concerned that it involves information stored on an out of date database. It reinforces my view that organisations need to consider further limiting the amount of information they collect and store about people. They should also make sure that information is destroyed when it is no longer needed as is required under the Privacy Act” he says.

    In my last post I called for Australia’s legislation to come up to date with what is occurring worldwide. Being part of the technological network means we are part of the global network and therefore we cannot deny that security threats in any country and particularly the United States could have an impact on us here in Australia as it has done in this instance.

    In fact, current statistics show that high-tech crime costs Australians $15billion per year, and the Australian Crime Commission now sites identity theft as the fastest growing crime in Australia.

    What is encouraging is the Australia Law Reform Commission’s recommendation that consideration should be given to the introduction of mandatory data breach notification laws. This means that when something of the nature of the Sony PlayStation data breach or the recent Dell Computers data breach occurs in the future, there will be an obligation for the company to notify its customers in this country of the occurrence.

    What is also being considered by the Government is more power for the Privacy Commissioner to impose penalties following an ‘own motion investigation’, such as enforceable undertakings and civil penalties for serious breaches of privacy. So if this part of the recommendations becomes legislation, the Privacy Commissioner would be able to penalise those companies which are found liable in relation to privacy breaches.

    In the meantime, Sony recommends its customers take these steps to help protect their personal data:

    “For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking.

    When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well. To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant, to review your account statements and to monitor your credit reports” says Sony’s Patrick Seybold.

    In Australia we can check our credit file for free by obtaining a credit report with credit reporting agencies Veda Advantage, Dun & Bradstreet or Tasmanian Collection Agency. A copy of our credit rating is then sent within 10 working days. Or for a fee they will supply one urgently.

    If there are any errors on this file, including evidence of identity theft, it is possible the credit file can be repaired.

    Contact www.mycra.com.au for more information.

  • Home buyers warned dreams could be shattered by missing bill payments

    AUSTRALIANS applying for home loans are finding simple overdue accounts are coming back to haunt them, with some even being refused finance, according to a national credit rating repairer.

    My CRA’s Director, GRAHAM DOESSEL says a credit rating check can reveal defaults many are not aware of such as small overdue phone bills, electricity bills and rates which may or may not have been settled.

    “It would surprise you how many people there are out there with needless defaults on their credit rating due to unpaid accounts of more than 60 days. It may also surprise you to know these ‘defaults’ can be enough for an automatic decline with some lenders. At the moment, some lenders are even rejecting loans for excess credit enquiries such as two enquiries in 30 days or six within the year” Mr DOESSEL says.

    Research from September 2010 conducted by DUN & BRADSTREET revealed one third of debt referred for collection in the June quarter was amounts under $200.

    “These findings demonstrate that significant portions of Australians are either unaware of the consequences of not paying their bills on time or they are facing quite significant stress and cannot afford to pay these accounts” Dun & Bradstreet’s CEO, CHRISTINE CHRISTIAN says.

    The report also states that the average value of referred debts stands at the highest level in four and a half years.

    Mr DOESSEL says it is extremely important for potential buyers to know there is more to preparing for a mortgage than simply saving the deposit.

    “Your credit rating is as important as your savings record in calculating loan eligibility and borrowing capacity. Having a clear credit record allows you to shop for the best interest rate because you have the financial freedom to choose any bank.

    “At the moment, blemishes on your credit record are viewed unfavourably by most lenders – and defaults remain on your file for 5 years. Never has there been a more important time to understand your credit rating and to keep it looking as healthy as possible” he says.

    MY CRA outlines how home buyers can establish a good track record of credit:

    MAKE REPAYMENTS ON TIME: Repay any bills received by the due date. Bills that are not paid within 60 days may be referred for collection and noted as a default. If people are having trouble paying on time, they should contact the creditor as they may be able to work out a payment plan rather than the creditor listing the non payment as a default.

    USE CREDIT: Having no credit history means there is nothing to calculate and the risk appears high to lenders. Start by borrowing something small. Repaying mobile phone plans, internet accounts, or store credit on time will appeal to anyone checking people’s credit rating.

    HAVE A STABLE ADDRESS: Lenders like to see stability. Furthermore, defaults are easy to come by when bills are sent to the wrong address. If you do travel frequently, consider a trusted family member’s address for all bills.

    APPLY FOR CREDIT WITH CARE: People should only apply for credit if they feel they have a very good chance of being approved. Declined credit applications on a person’s file can hinder their chances of obtaining a home loan. Likewise, people should only apply for credit they have full intention of pursuing. Every application is noted on file, not whether it is approved or not. If a person goes shopping for the right credit and applies everywhere – the lender may consider this person to have been refused credit and therefore a bad risk.

    CHECK CREDIT FILE REGULARLY: People should check their file well before they need to apply for a home loan. That way if there are any problems they can sort it out while there is no urgency, and save themselves embarrassment and disappointment from having their finance declined. The major credit reporting agencies are bound by law to send people a copy of their credit report for free within 10 working days of application.  Or for a fee, Veda Advantage has a service called ‘Veda Alert’ which provides a copy of the credit file, and the person goes on alert to receive notification of any changes to the credit file within 12 months.

    CLEAR YOUR DEFAULTS: If there are defaults, don’t put up with them for 5 years. People can check with a credit file repairer if they can be removed.

    “If people do check their credit file and find defaults, writs or judgements which have been added without a person’s knowledge, have been added incorrectly, unjustly or unfairly there is a good possibility they can be removed by a credit repairer” he says.

    Demand for third party ‘credit repairers’ has grown due to what Mr DOESSEL says is a system fraught with difficulties.

    “Many of our clients have attempted to deal with creditors themselves and have come up against problems and defaults have not been cleared.  Most times the creditor says defaults are never removed and remain on file for 5 years.  The best they can do is mark the listing as paid if the account has been settled.  This may not be sufficient to ensure credit is obtained with some lenders.”

    “Most clients don’t have the time or patience for negotiation with creditors. On cases we take on, MY CRA has had a 91.7% success rate of actually removing the default” he says.

    MY CRA has information for consumers on their website from how to go about obtaining a copy of their credit file, to tips on spotting identity fraud.  For more information go to www.mycra.com.au.

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    Links:

    Link to Dun & Bradstreet article:

    http://dnb.com.au/Header/News/Consumer_debt_referrals_rise_to_record_levels/indexdl_6681.aspx

     

    Please contact:

    Graham Doessel       http://www.mycra.com.au/

    Ph: 07 3124 7133

    246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD.

     

    About MyCRA Pty Ltd

    MyCRA Pty Ltd is 100% Australian owned and operated and we are based in Stafford, a northern suburb of Brisbane in Qld.

    My CRA was developed for the sole purpose of giving clients access and ability to work with their Credit File.   This is in order to give them the best chance of getting approval, getting a lower interest rate or just to reduce the upfront fees that can be associated with obtaining credit. My CRA are able to help you get a copy of your credit file and from that determine how we can help repair a credit file.

    We have more than 15 years combined experience in working with and helping clients with their credit files. We are the fastest known credit rating repair agency in Australia. We can often remove judgements in as little as 3 days.

    As Director I [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”][GRAHAM DOESSEL] previously owned a very successful mortgage brokerage company “Mortgage Now” before establishing My CRA because I saw a great need in the industry for credit repair.

     

    Please Note: Our previous results of up to 91.7% have applied only to consumer applications and past results are no indication of future performance

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  • Crime storm blows in after Cyclone Yasi

    VICTIMS of CYCLONE YASI are urged to take real and important measures to protect their identities from thieves in the aftermath of the cyclone’s devastation to homes and businesses.

    With homes in absolute ruin and thousands of people still displaced, there is a danger of victims being hit again by identity thieves.

    These fraudsters could pose as insurance people or attempt to remove personal information from homes and businesses while they are vacant and in disarray, according to credit rating repair company MY CRA’s Director GRAHAM DOESSEL.

    “Victims should not be preyed upon again by criminals, but the fact is they are prime targets for identity thieves” Mr DOESSEL says.

    This warning follows the deployment of 35 extra police to NORTH QUEENSLAND following the arrest of six looters in TOWNSVILLE.

    The state’s disaster co-ordinator, IAN STEWART, says there had been 11 reports of looting since CYCLONE YASI hit north and far north QUEENSLAND, including an “opportunistic” break and enter at a pharmacy in CAIRNS during the height of the storm.

    “It really is a disgrace that people would even consider doing this sort of thing at a time when the trauma being suffered by our community is so great,” he said.

    The SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND floods produced scammers who tricked victims in to giving their bank details to people claiming they would help them obtain emergency funds. Scammers also claimed to be tradesmen offering to repair flood damage – they requested payment in advance before disappearing.

    MR DOESSEL says cyclone victims may not only be targets for this type of crime, but particularly for other types of looting where thieves obtain personal information from vacant homes and use that information to steal someone’s identity or to claim compensation in their name.

    “People could be at great risk of identity theft, due to their homes being vacant and possibly unsecured for significant parts of the day and night” he says.

    He suggests if displaced victims are unable to secure important documents in their homes at present and are able to retrieve them and store them in a safe and secure place they should do so.

    “Documents like marriage, birth and death certificates, past tax returns and even utility bills could all be stolen and used to appropriate someone’s identity” Mr DOESSEL says.

    The AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION now sites identity theft as the “fastest growing crime in AUSTRALIA.”

    Compromised financial information can be used directly to attempt to access the victim’s accounts, or be used to obtain credit cards/ loans in the victims’ name.

    Fraudsters have even been known to send SMS and emails from a compromised identity to victims’ friends and associates, asking for money on the victims’ behalf. This often involves a story in regards to the victim being stranded somewhere and requiring the funds urgently.

    Mr DOESSEL says his office has experienced an increase in credit rating repair due to identity theft – from card skimming through to professional gangs who ferret for personal information at a person’s home or in their rubbish bin. 

    “Identity crime hits twice. People are not only ripped off at the time, but their credit rating is destroyed generally for 5 years once defaults are listed on the victim’s credit file. This is regardless of how the defaults got there. A default on a person’s credit file is usually enough for an automatic decline on a home loan” he says.

    The nature of credit ratings in AUSTRALIA, is once a default has been listed on a person’s file – it is very difficult to have it removed. Creditors will generally only mark the listing as paid.

    “Effectively people are robbed of their financial future. The best course of action for most people fighting a default that is unjust, incorrect or just simply shouldn’t be there is to contact a reputable credit file repairer. “

    “A credit rating repairer is generally more aware of the appropriate legislation, experienced at researching case by case and presenting that information in the most effective manner to ensure the best possible chance of having the default removed – as it rightly should be” Mr DOESSEL says.

    People can visit the MY CRA website for more information on identity theft – what to look for, tips on preventing it and what to do if people have been scammed or their identity stolen.

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     LINKS

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/police-head-north-to-crack-down-on-theft/story-e6frg6nf-1226000442845

     http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/media/faq/financial_crime.htm

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

     

    Please contact:  

    Graham Doessel       http://www.mycra.com.au/

    Ph: 07 3124 7133          

    246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD.

     

    About MyCRA.com.au

     MyCRA.com.au is 100% Australian owned and operated and we are based in Stafford, a northern suburb of Brisbane in Qld.

    My CRA was developed for the sole purpose of giving clients access and ability to work with their Credit File.   This is in order to give them the best chance of getting approval, getting a lower interest rate or just to reduce the upfront fees that can be associated with obtaining credit. My CRA are able to help you get a copy of your credit file and from that determine how we can help repair a credit file.

    We have more than 15 years combined experience in working with and helping clients with their credit files. We are the fastest known credit rating repair agency in Australia. We can often remove judgements in as little as 3 days.     

    As Director I [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”][GRAHAM DOESSEL] previously owned a very successful mortgage brokerage company “Mortgage Now” before establishing My CRA because I saw a great need in the industry for credit repair.

     

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  • Identity Theft the ticking time bomb in Australia

    SAFETY of personal information needs to be taken more seriously in this country, to avoid Australian identity theft statistics rising to the percentages of those in the UNITED STATES, GRAHAM DOESSEL CEO of credit rating repair company MY CRA warns.

    “Identity theft is the curse of the 21st Century and that is becoming more evident in our industry of credit rating repair. There are more and more people needing help with repairing their credit file due to having their identity misrepresented in some way.”

    “With exposure of our personal information greater than ever before, opportunities for fraud are higher than ever” he says.

     This follows a recent investigation into VODAFONE for allegations of possible breaches of privacy by having customer information available on a publically accessible internet site.

     This investigation conducted by the Privacy Commissioner found the allegations were unsubstantiated, but his report, released 16 February did illustrate other areas of concern at VODAFONE in relation to privacy.

     “Vodafone did not have appropriate security measures in place to protect customer’s personal information at the time. Consequently Vodafone was in breach of their obligations under the Privacy Act. I was particularly concerned by Vodafone’s use of shared logins and passwords for staff and the broad range of detailed personal information available to them.” Privacy Commissioner TIMOTHY PILGRIM says.

    Vodafone agreed to review its IT security, and all appropriate staff including employees in retail stores and dealerships will be issued with individual login IDs and passwords.

    Mr Pilgrim said that this case should serve as a reminder to all businesses using customer management systems to ensure that they have robust privacy protections built in.

    The latest AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS data from a Personal Fraud Survey conducted in 2007 shows over 800,000 Australians were victims of at least one incident of personal fraud in the 12 months prior to interview, with over half of these victims incurring a financial loss.

    Research in 2009 conducted by Galaxy Research for VEDA ADVANTAGE showed 4.4 million Australians were affected in some way by identity theft, compared to 3.8 million in the previous year.

    The AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION now sites identity theft as the “fastest growing crime in AUSTRALIA.”

    The A.C.C. says compromised financial information can be used directly to attempt to access someone’s accounts, or be used to obtain credit cards, loans or any other credit in the victims’ name.

    Fraudsters have even been known to send SMS and emails from a compromised identity to victims’ friends and associates, asking for money on the victims’ behalf. This often involves a story in regards to the victim being stranded somewhere and requiring the funds urgently.

    Current U.S. statistics point to 8.1 million people being victimized in 2010, according to a report by JAVELIN STRATEGY AND RESEARCH. Although that’s still a huge number, it’s 3 million fewer victims than in 2009.

    So why have the U.S. statistics begun to improve? JAVELIN sites the top reason for the decrease is due to a significant drop in data breaches, or situations in which batches of personal information have become vulnerable to identity thieves.

    The number of breaches last year was down by almost one-third, to 407 incidents, or 26 million records exposed, according to the DataLossDB project. Again, still a huge number, but down – from 604 breaches, or 221 million records exposed, in 2009.

    “We definitely see evidence that the banks and other institutions are taking stronger precautions to prevent data breaches. Data breaches are a big deal. You are eight times more likely to be a victim of fraud if you get a data-breach notice.” James Van Dyke, president and founder of Javelin says.

    He also sites consumer-education efforts as possibly another factor.

    Mr DOESSEL says this demonstrates the importance of vigilance in the war against identity theft.

    “It is so important for Australians to educate themselves on how to keep their information secure, and to demand that any information they are required to give over to any person or company be treated with the utmost privacy” Mr DOESSEL says. 

    “Our message at MyCRA to someone who has found themselves a victim of identity theft is two-fold. Firstly don’t be embarrassed to report it to police – it is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.”

    “Secondly don’t put up with the damage it causes to your credit file and to your life, get in touch with a reputable credit rating repairer who can help you to clear your credit file and restore the financial freedom you rightly deserve” he says.

    Visit www.mycra.com.au  for more information on identity theft.

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     LINKS

    PRIVACY COMMISSIONER’S STATEMENT:

    http://www.oaic.gov.au/news/media_release_vodafone_omi.html

     

    VEDA ADVANTAGE:

    http://www.vedaadvantage.com/news-and-media/article.dot?id=505933

     

    AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS:

    http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article13012009%E2%80%9310?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2009%9610&num=&view

     

    A.C.C. IDENTITY CRIME STATEMENT:

    http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/media/faq/financial_crime.htm

     

    U.S. STATISTICS:

     http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906064.html

     

     

  • Privacy Commissioner gets tough on Vodafone

    An investigation into possible breaches of privacy by Vodafone reveals the privacy measures that are currently in place there are inadequate to ensure the security of its customers and could result in identity theft.

    Recently I commented on an investigation underway by the Privacy Commissioner into allegations that Vodafone’s customer information was available on an internet site (MyCRA Blog January 10, 2010).

    Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim has just released his findings and below are his statements:

    “In the course of my investigation I did not find any evidence that substantiated the claim that Vodafone customers’ personal information was available on a publically accessible website. However, in my view, Vodafone did not have appropriate security measures in place to protect customer’s personal information at the time. Consequently Vodafone was in breach of their obligations under the Privacy Act,”

    “I was particularly concerned by Vodafone’s use of shared logins and passwords for staff and the broad range of detailed personal information available to them.”

    As part of an undertaking given to the Privacy Commissioner, Vodafone agreed to review its IT security, and all appropriate staff including employees in retail stores and dealerships will be issued with individual login IDs and passwords.

    “I am pleased that on being made aware of the allegations Vodafone acted promptly to put in additional security measures to limit access to the personal information it holds.  While I welcome the steps that were taken I have also asked Vodafone to report back to me on the progress of the review and implementation of increased security measures,” Mr Pilgrim said.

    Mr Pilgrim said that this case should serve as a reminder to all businesses using customer management systems to ensure that they have robust privacy protections built in.

    “All businesses must take the privacy of their customers seriously. Systems should be up to date and secure and staff should only have access to the information that is necessary for their work.  To comply with the Privacy Act and retain the trust and loyalty of their customers, I urge businesses to review their data security practices to prevent the likelihood of a privacy breach occurring which could have the potential to lead to identity theft or fraud,” Mr Pilgrim warned

    Security of your personal information should be taken very seriously.
    The AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION now sites identity theft as the “fastest growing crime in AUSTRALIA.”
    Compromised financial information can be used directly to attempt to access the victim’s accounts, or be used to obtain credit cards/ loans in the victims’ name.
    Fraudsters have even been known to send SMS and emails from a compromised identity to victims’ friends and associates, asking for money on the victims’ behalf. This often involves a story in regards to the victim being stranded somewhere and requiring the funds urgently.
    This is not to say that any Vodafone staff would be dishonest enough to misuse the information they had available to them, but it is good to know the new system they will be implementing will prevent this possibility.
    Identity theft can catch anyone out and often times it is someone you know who has used credit in your name. For lack of reportage, we may not know the real scale of this crime.

    Our message at MyCRA to someone who has found themselves victims of identity theft is firstly don’t be embarrassed to report it to police – it is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    Secondly don’t put up with the damage it causes to your credit file and to your life.

    Get in touch with us at MyCRA and see how we can help you get your financial freedom back again.
    Visit our site for more information on identity theft and how to prevent it happening to you.

    www.mycra.com.au

    LINKS
    PRIVACY COMMISSIONER’S STATEMENT:
    http://www.oaic.gov.au/news/media_release_vodafone_omi.html
    ACC IDENTITY CRIME STATEMENT:
    http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/media/faq/financial_crime.htm

  • First Telstra & Now Vodafone… What Privacy Protection Do We Really Have?

    Recently I blogged about Telstra allegedly breaching the privacy of some 200,000 clients by sending out letters to clients containing the details of other Telstra clients phone services and contact details.

    Now it seems, Vodafone have allegedly breached privacy also..

    According to a OAIC release, Vodafone have allegedly allowed personal and private Client information to have been available on a website which may have breached the Privacy Act.

    I am glad I am not a Vodafone client right now.

    MyCRA works everyday with clients that have defaults on their credit files and with hundreds of thousands of ‘reported’ cases of Identity Theft every year in Australia, this Vodafone issue is just what the organised gangs are after to steal more identities.

    The following excerpt is directly from the OAIC Media release:

    The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Mr Timothy Pilgrim, will investigate allegations that Vodafone has made the personal information of its customers available via an internet site.

    “Our Office takes all allegations of privacy breaches very seriously. All organisations should ensure the security of their customers’ personal information or risk breaching the Privacy Act and causing serious customer dissatisfaction and possible loss of business as a result,” Mr Pilgrim said.

    “The Office’s first step will be to determine whether Vodafone’s activities constitute a breach of the Privacy Act. I am concerned about the amount of personal information that may have been disclosed which could include sensitive information. For this reason I have opened an own motion investigation into the matter today. I have spoken with the CEO of Vodafone and he has assured me of Vodafone’s full cooperation,” Mr Pilgrim said.

    The Australian Privacy Commissioner also advised that if an individual believes their privacy has been interfered with they should first contact Vodafone and if they are not satisfied with their response they can make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

    If you have fallen victim to Identity Theft, firstly report it to the police and cancel any accounts that may have been affected.

    Once you have that area under control, Give MyCRA Credit Rating Repair a call and we can guide you through the process of removing any black marks that may have appeared on your credit file or credit rating as a result of the Identity theft Issue

    You can contact MyCRA Credit Rating Repair on 07 3124 7133 or www.MyCRA.com.au

  • Has Telstra Put 220,000 Clients At Risk Of Identity Theft By Their Error?

    Telstr has sent out 220,000 ‘botched’ letters to clients with other customers information showing what Plans, Phone numbers, even Silent Numbers  and Names of other clients.

    This could SERIOUSLY affect the privacy of 220,000 people in a real way and The Australian Privacy Commissioner is not happy.

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority Chairman, Mr. Chris Chapman said yesterday “The main priority initially is to limit the damageto consumers caught up in

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    Chris Chapman photo
    Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA

    this mail out and where possible to ensure remedies are quickly implimented.”

    “I have spoken with Telstra and they have assured us they will fully co-operate with the ACMA and other regulatory agencies to minimise the fall out for customers,” Mr Chapman said.

    Mr. Timmothy Pilgrim  (The Australian Privacy Commisioner) has advised that his office will commence an investigation into the matter.

    Mr. Pilgrim went on to say, “While I welcome Telstra’s prompt advice that this incident occurred and that it has taken steps to contact affected customers, I am concerned about the amount of personal information that has been disclosed which includes potentially sensitive information such as silent numbers.”

    “Customers expect their personal data to be protected by organisations and incidents such as this are very serious. For this reason my Office will be opening an investigation into the matter today,” Mr. Pilgrim continued.

    Telstra has acted quickly to set up a hotline for its affected customers 1800 307 987.

    Graham Doessel CEO of National Credit File Repair Firm My CRA said, “While Telstra,

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    Graham Doessel Photo
    Graham Doessel, MyCRA CEO

    The Privacy Commissioner and The ACMA are all working together to get this mess cleaned up, the simple truth is the damage has already been done.  The amount of information contained in these letters could be the last piece in the Identity Theft Puzzle.”

    “There are organised gangs that actually go through peoples rubbish just looking for discarded rates notices, phone bills, credit card and bank statements, old rego papers and anything else they can use to convince the authorities that they are you,” Graham Doessel continued.

    Mr. Doessel also commented, “Once the organised gangs have come back enough times (can take many months), got the paperwork they need, they will systematically go about building a copy of your identity.  Then they can access bank accounts, get credit cards, apply for loans, phone accounts, and in some cases, buy property in your name. Some have even mortgaged or sold the family home of their Identity Theft Victims.”

    A 2007 Australian Breau of Statistics survey shows over 500,000 people in Australia have been victim of Identity Fraud, with the majority coming from Credit or Bank Card Fraud.

    If you think there is even a small chance that you may be the victim of Identity Fraud, (also known as Identity Theft) the simplest thing you can do is to contact www.MyCreditFile.com.au  and request a Free copy of your credit file.

    You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report ever year and it will arive within 10 working days.  If you need a copy of your credit rating any sooner, you can pay a small fee to have it emailed to you within a couple of hours.

    If you do discover there are concering entries on your credit rating, you have hte right to contest those and potentially have them ammended or removed.

    Contact your creditor and ask that the items are updated or removed though we do find that unfortunately many clients are bluffed by their creditors and are unsuccessful after many months of trying.

    If you are time poor or just want he best chance of repairing your credit rating, investigate the option of engaging a professional credit repair firm.

    All professional credit repair firms will have a detailed website, publish all of their prices, have success stories from real clients and display their success rates.

    Do your home work and then get your financial integrity back.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]