Scams target you! Protect yourself

Australians continue to fall prey to the criminal activities of fraudsters and scammers as unprecedented numbers of sophisticated swindlers bombard us with electronic, phone and postal scams.

Ms Louise Sylvan, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Chair of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT), jointly launched the ACFT four-week campaign today with the strong message 'SCAMS TARGET YOU! Protect Yourself.' 

"There seems to be a scam created to trap just about everyone – from dodgy emails and text messages, to phishing, to lottery scams, to fake investment schemes, bogus medical cons, to the Nigerian letters, to fake employment and money laundering schemes, to identity theft. 

"On identity theft alone, losses to the Australian community are estimated to be in excess of $1 billion annually.  In the last four months, consumers who registered complaints with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission lost a total of $5.2 million to scams and rip-offs – from pyramid schemes/chain letters, to  advanced fee frauds (like the Nigerian scam), to payments to psychics and clairvoyants, to employment scams. 

"Since the campaign last year, the top scams and frauds complained about to the ACCC continue to be lottery scams and advanced fee fraud (like the Nigerian scam), with employment scams making it for the first time into the top three.

"Consumers should be aware that all sorts of people fall for these kinds of slick swindles and that they need to be alert in order to protect themselves.

"The problem isn't going away. The scammers are out there, and they're active with new tricks."

Because of the seriousness of these crimes, agencies across Australia and New Zealand joined forces in 2005 to heighten consumer awareness.   The success of the campaign has led more than 40 private sector partners from the finance, IT, telecommunications, and other industries to join the Taskforce this year – as well as a large number of community groups - all concerned to fight these insidious and growing crimes.

"Consumer protection regulators, businesses, and community groups all see the harmful effects which scams have on people," Ms Sylvan said.

"One of the best ways to combat this kind of fraud is to help people take the steps to prevent being caught out in the first place.

"Throughout the month, consumers will be given crucial and simple precautions, to help arm themselves and protect their hard-earned money."

The Taskforce activities complement the work being done by all the agencies involved. The ACCC is particularly active in its work on scams. Last year it took court action against a number of scams targeting small businesses and took out an injunction against a business claiming to cure cancer.

Educating businesses and consumers is also seen as vital in containing scams. The ACCC held its annual Competing Fairly Forum focussing on scams and frauds that affect small businesses. It was also the inaugural year for the Taskforce which focussed on helping consumers recognising and avoiding scams.

This was enhanced by public alerts via the ACCC's website, SCAMwatch warnings, media articles, publications and advice provided by the Infocentre.

In 2006, the ACCC's educative efforts culminated in the launch of the new look SCAMwatch website which provides practical advice and information to consumers as well as a portal to make complaints.

Anyone wanting to report a scam or get some practical advice should go to www.scamwatch.com.au or call the ACCC's Infocentre on 1300 502 302.

Taskforce Background

Consumer scams are crimes of dishonesty such as forgery, counterfeiting, on-line deception, and theft that are targeted at people who seek to purchase goods and services. Potential victims can be those who use fixed line or mobile phones, computers and the internet, older people, and those who use professional advisers.

As part of a whole-of-Government approach to combat consumer fraud and scams targeted at consumers, the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce was established in March 2005 and comprises all of the governmental regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand who have responsibilities for consumer protection.   The Taskforce is the Australian and New Zealand implementation of the mass-marketed global fraud work of the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network.

The ACCC has joined forces with other agencies to raise awareness about scams and fraud prevention.  The four-week campaign is being launched by the Taskforce to help people protect themselves from scams.  The overall theme for the four weeks of the campaign is 'SCAMS TARGET YOU - Protect Yourself'.

Agencies participating in the Taskforce are: 

Australian Government: Attorney General's Department; Australian Bureau of Statistics; Australian Communications and Media Authority; Australian Competition & Consumer Commission; Australian Federal Police (represented by the Australian High Tech Crime Centre); Australian Institute of Criminology; Australian Securities & Investment Commission; and the Department of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts.

New Zealand Government: NZ Commerce Commission; Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

State and Territory Governments: All State and Territory Police jurisdictions; Australian Capital Territory – Office of Fair Trading; Consumer Affairs Victoria; New South Wales – Office of Fair Trading; Consumer Affairs Northern Territory; Queensland – Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development; South Australia – Office of Consumer & Business Affairs; Tasmania – Office of Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading; Western Australia – Department of Consumer & Employment Protection.

Taskforce partners
Taskforce members are joined in communicating with Australian consumers about scams by a range of community, non-Government and private sector organisations. Visit http://www.scamwatch.gov.au for a list of Taskforce partners.

Consumers who think they've spotted a scam can check the SCAMwatch website which has detailed information about scams, or report a scam on 1300 795 995.