| According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 | | | | 2. Purchase and use a shredder when throwing |
| in 4 people are targeted by internet fraud each | | | | away documentation such as financial statements, |
| year and a whopping 800,000 people fall victim to | | | | pre-approved credit applications and any tax |
| these scams. | | | | related forms of correspondence. |
| It is becoming increasingly important for | | | | 3. When using popular public networking sites like |
| consumers to be aware of the many ways that | | | | Facebook and MySpace limit your personal |
| they can be defrauded. Fraudsters are becoming | | | | information disclosure as your details can be easily |
| ever more cunning as they continue to find new | | | | extracted from these platforms and used to steal |
| ways to prey on and catch out innocent and | | | | your identity for criminal purposes. |
| unsuspecting customers. | | | | 4. If and when you receive credit cards from |
| Some of the most common types of personal | | | | your financial institution sign them as soon as you |
| fraud to be aware of include: | | | | receive them. |
| * Credit or bank card fraud - the unauthorised | | | | 5. Regularly monitor your bank and credit card |
| use of a credit or bank card. | | | | statements for any incorrect transactions or any |
| * Identity theft - the theft and fraudulent use of | | | | irregular debits and promptly report these to the |
| personal details or documents such as passports, | | | | relevant organisation. |
| tax file numbers and drivers' licences, all of which | | | | 6. Avoid using public computers, especially for |
| can be used to conduct business or open new | | | | accessing financial information, as they may |
| accounts in another person's name. | | | | contain viruses that can capture your personal |
| * Lottery - usually a scam by which a person is | | | | banking details. |
| told that they have won a lottery that they didn't | | | | 7. Install and regularly update security software on |
| enter. The "winner" is then asked to provide | | | | your personal and work computer such as |
| personal information in order to prove their | | | | personal firewalls, virus and anti-spy protection. |
| identity and/or send a fee or bank account details | | | | 8. Generally speaking, it is best to ignore any |
| in order to get the prize. | | | | spam email that is generated from unfamiliar |
| * Phishing and related scams - a fraudulent | | | | addresses. |
| request whereby the fraudster pretends to be | | | | 9. Change your various electronic passwords |
| from a business or a bank and asks the | | | | regularly. This includes PINs, online banking logins |
| consumer to confirm various personal details such | | | | and email account passwords. |
| as bank account numbers and credit card details. | | | | 10. Keep your wits about you and logically assess |
| This can be done through a variety of mediums | | | | the details of the request or offer before |
| such as post, in person, calling your landline or | | | | providing your details to any unfamiliar third |
| mobile telephone, with email and instant messaging | | | | parties. If necessary, seek professional advice. |
| usually the most common. | | | | As the world moves to using the computer and |
| * Financial advice - unsolicited fraudulent financial | | | | the internet for more and more aspects of life - |
| advice can include offers such as investment | | | | from communicating and banking to shopping and |
| seminars, real estate scams, share promotion or | | | | searching - fraudsters are constantly developing |
| telemarketing or other similar tactics. | | | | more sinister and devious ways to capture |
| * Advance fee fraud - an unwelcome request to | | | | unsuspecting targets along with still utilising the |
| transfer money into a person's bank account. It is | | | | more traditional methods. Subscribing to the |
| usually accompanied by an elaborate or dramatic | | | | common adage of "If it seems too good to be |
| story which concludes with requesting the | | | | true, it probably is" could serve you well here. Ask |
| respondent's assistance and account details in | | | | yourself seriously, if it is actually probable that you |
| order to facilitate the transfer of a large sum of | | | | are the sole heir to a $33 million African fortune, |
| money. This request is normally coupled with a | | | | for example. |
| promise of a commission or fee for the | | | | If you suspect that you may have unfortunately |
| respondent's assistance with the transaction but | | | | fallen victim to an act of personal fraud please |
| instead funds are illegally withdrawn from the | | | | contact us on 1300 QUINNS or click here to |
| respondent's account. | | | | submit an online enquiry. Additionally, please do not |
| There are some simple practices that you can | | | | hesitate to contact us if you would like more |
| employ that will help to keep your personal details | | | | information on how to better protect yourself |
| safe and minimise the risk of falling victim to | | | | from becoming a victim of personal fraud. We |
| personal fraud. Some such practices include: | | | | can help you to ensure that you have the correct |
| 1. Use a locked mailbox to send and receive all | | | | procedures in place to protect you and your |
| mail | | | | family's hard earned money. |