Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
02/03/2010
You've got mail...and a scam
JOINT RELEASE
High-tech fraudsters are disguising themselves online and targeting inboxes with a new wave of 'e-scams', say Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor and Police Minister Neil Roberts.
Mr Lawlor said the Office of Fair Trading warned people about an increasing number of scams being received electronically via email and text message.
"The National Consumer Fraud Week (1-7 March) awareness campaign is underway and this is a good reminder to people to get up to date on different types of cyber threats," he said.
"While many of us understand that spam involves unwanted emails being sent out to a multitude of email addresses, some of the newer scams such as phishing and smishing may not be understood."
The warning follows an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report released yesterday showing that Australians lost almost $70 million through scams in 2009.
Mr Roberts said the impact of fraud on the community was often underestimated.
"Advances in technology have provided more opportunities for offenders to prey on the most vulnerable members of our community," Mr Roberts said.
"While the Internet is a powerful communication tool, offenders have adapted to it quickly and are now using it en masse to target victims via text message and email.
"We see victims suffer not only embarrassment and humiliation but too many are losing their home and life savings.
"The Queensland Police Service's expert Fraud and Corporate Crime Group has a number of initiatives aimed at preventing this crime and educating the public on how to avoid becoming a cyber crime victim."
Mr Lawlor said phishing referred to emails that tricked people into giving out their personal and banking information.
"The term smishing is used when people are targeted by text messages to their mobile phones," he said.
"These messages appear to come from legitimate business, often banks or telecommunication companies, and have an authentic feel about them.
"Emails will often link to websites that look identical to a real company's page, with similar logos and headings; the key is to look carefully at the web address.
"If a real bank's webpage was www.realbank.com, a fake address might be www.realbank.com.log107.biz
"The scammers are trying to obtain personal information allowing them to withdraw money from bank accounts.
"Even clicking onto a fake website can allow scammers to load spy ware onto your computer which gives them access to any information you have saved.
"It's a good idea to rest your mouse icon over the top of any link your unfamiliar with before clicking through, as this reveals the full web address at the bottom left of your screen.
"This will give you a strong indication of whether the website is legitimate or not."
Mr Lawlor said the key message to consumers was to be aware that there are scams out there and to carefully guard their personal information.
"Personal details and financial and banking information should be closely protected and not passed on without careful consideration."
Tips to beat the scammers:
- When surfing the web, check the address of any links you're unfamiliar with by holding your mouse icon over the link.
The address will show up on the bottom left on your page;
- Use different passwords for your online banking, email, social networking and shopping accounts;
- Regularly scan your computer for viruses and spy ware;
- Don't open emails or attachments from unknown sources - the best thing to do is to delete them;
- Never provide your credit card and personal details to an unsecured website. A secure website can be identified by a padlock at the bottom right hand corner of your screen.
For more information on protecting yourself from scams, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or www.scamwatch.gov.au
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PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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