Scams target you - protect yourself

All sorts of people fall for scams, and consumers need to remain alert and take steps to protect themselves.

The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce

The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce was established in June 2005 to provide a whole of government approach to raising awareness about consumer fraud. It will hold a week-long fraud awareness campaign from 2 March 2009 to help consumers and small businesses protect themselves from scams.

For further information please visit the Taskforce website: www.scamwatch.gov.au.

Consumer fraud survey

The Taskforce aims to enhance the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of scam offenders and therefore would like to know about any scams that consumers and small businesses have experienced and how they have responded to them.

The Australian Institute of Criminology is carrying out a short online survey on behalf of the Taskforce. To assist this process the Department encourages consumers and small businesses to complete the survey at the Australian Institute of Criminology's website.

Scams and SCAMwatch

The Australian Government provides resources to help people identify and report scams. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the national agency that deals with general consumer protection matters and is a member of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce

The ACCC hosts a website called SCAMwatch, which provides information on recognising, avoiding and reporting scams. The ACCC may analyse scams reported to SCAMwatch.

Consumers should report anything they think is a scam to SCAMwatch. For more information on how to detect and report scams visit the SCAMwatch website (www.scamwatch.gov.au) or call the ACCC on 1300 302 502.

The little black book of scams

The ACCC also distributes an informative pamphlet, The little black book of scams, that highlights a variety of popular scams that regularly target Australian consumers and small business. These include fake lotteries and such targets as internet shopping, mobile phones, online banking, employment and investment opportunities. The pamphlet offers consumers tips on how to protect themselves from scams, what they can do to minimise damage if they do get scammed and how to report a scam.

Visit web page of The little black book of scams on the ACCC website to download or order a copy at no cost, or call the ACCC on 1300 302 502.

Useful websites

SCAMwatch

A site to help you recognise, report and protect yourself from scams. Find out more about the scams that target you or your small business. SCAMwatch is the campaign portal for the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce.
www.scamwatch.gov.au

FIDO

A website provided by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for consumers and investors. It includes warnings about financial scams and lists of illegal investments and unlicensed overseas callers promoting investment opportunities, along with tips on managing money and information on how to complain. It also features case studies about people who were made financial offers that were too good to be true.
www.fido.gov.au

NetAlert

The Australian Governments cyber-safety website. The site includes advice and resources on internet scams, identity theft, spam and other online cyber-safety related issues.
www.netalert.gov.au

Stay Smart Online

The Australian Governments e-security website for home users and small businesses. The site has a range of information and resources including quizzes, guides, tools, tips and advice on how to use the internet safely and confidently.
www.staysmartonline.gov.au

Protect Your Financial Identity

This website provides information for the public on how to protect your financial identity in everyday life and minimise the damage if a problem occurs. This website was developed by the Australian Bankers Association, the Australian High Tech Crime Centre and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
www.protectfinancialid.org.au

Identity Theft Kit

A kit produced by the Attorney-Generals Department to help you prevent and respond to identity theft.
www.ag.gov.au

• Document ID: 81792 |
• Last modified: 13 May 2009, 4:50pm