Unprecedented numbers of 'seductive' scams are tempting Australians into giving away their money or personal details.
"That surprise lottery win in the mail, the 'amazing' share offer over the phone, that unexpected e-greeting from a name you don't know - all these can be fronts for scams," warned Ms Louise Sylvan, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Chair of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce.
"Organised crime has found a lucrative new business – mass market global fraud or scams. And Australians continue to fall prey to the criminal activities of global fraudsters and scammers, as unprecedented numbers of sophisticated swindlers bombard us with electronic, phone and postal scams."
Fraud Fortnight, which runs from 24 February to 8 March 2008, aims to raise awareness about the increasing dangers of scams and the steps consumers can take to protect themselves from scams. Week one of the campaign focuses on 'seductive' scams.
"Scams can come in many forms - mail, email, telephone, over the Internet and door-to-door. But the development of new technology means scammers have new ways to contact vast numbers of people and deceive them," Ms Sylvan said.
"It can be as simple as clicking on a computer pop-up for a prize that sends a virus to your computer, or entering a competition that seems legitimate but is really collecting information to steal your money or your identity, or responding to that email offering from a lonely soul seeking companionship.
"Whether its offers of easy money, great prizes or true love, these sophisticated scammers have learned how to push people's buttons and get a response.
"Consumers must protect themselves. The key rules are: 'NEVER give your personal information out to unsolicited requests – either online, by email or by phone' and NEVER click on a link in an unsolicited email," advised Ms Sylvan.
"Consumer protection regulators, businesses, and community groups have all joined together in the Taskforce's Fraud Fortnight - all have seen the harmful effects which scams have on people," Ms Sylvan said.
To find out more about scams and to report them, visit SCAMwatch.gov.au or call SCAMwatch on 1300 795 995.
Media inquiries
Ms Louise Sylvan, Deputy Chair, 0410 610 326
Ms Lin Enright, Director, Media Unit, (02) 6243 1108or 0414 613 520
Fraud Fortnight is a campaign of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce. Established in March 2005, the Taskforce comprises of 19 Federal and State government regulatory agencies and departments (including New Zealand) that have a responsibility for consumer protection in relation to frauds and scams.
The Taskforce is part of the Mass-Market Global Fraud project of the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN). Due to the exponential growth of global scams, over 30 ICPEN consumer regulatory agencies around the world participate in campaigns at this time to warn consumers against global scams and fraud.
Consumers who have been the subject of scams are encouraged to fill out a scams survey on the Australian Institute of Criminology website: http://www.aic.gov.au/research/fraud/acft/survey.html. Gathering this information will assist in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of scam offenders.
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 Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
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 – Office of Fair Trading; 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 www.scamwatch.gov.au for a list of Taskforce partners.
