This week is Crime Stoppers National Identity Fraud Awareness Week 2009.
The Sydney Morning Herald's Lesley Parker reminds us that:
According to a report released last year by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three people aged 15 and over encountered some form of scam in 2007 – perhaps receiving emails...
Five per cent of them (806,000 people) made at least an initial response and 453,100 people lost money – almost $1 billion in total, or an average of $2160 a person.
The ABS says this translates to a "victimisation rate" of 2 per cent.
Don't become a statistic in 2009.
How identity theft occurs according to Stop ID Theft:
- Personal information you place on the Internet is collated by a fraudster.
- Mail is redirected without your knowledge.
- Wallet or purse is stolen.
- Unsolicited phone calls asking for information.
- Household or business garbage bin raided.
- Credit card or ATM card skimmed.
- Corporate identity theft by accessing publicly available records.
- Impersonation of a deceased person.
Cybersquatting on photographs: one form of identity theft on the Internet
Update:
Some April and September 2009 statistics on identity theft from Veda Advantage.
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