National Indentity Fraud Awareness Week October 2009

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.

Fellowes Identity Fraud Quiz

Cybersquatting on photographs: one form of identity theft on the Internet

Update:

Some April and September 2009 statistics on identity theft from Veda Advantage.

Martin Luther, time traveller extraordinaire

Following a link on An Onymous Lefty I landed on a 3rd October Catch the Fire Ministries post which began:

Dear family & friends in Christ,

It is reported that Martin Luther once said something along the lines of, 'Do not worry about what either people or the media says, both good and bad publicity is always good for the cause.'

Now Martin Luther died in the 16th century before there was such a thing as meeja, so he would have to had racked up more than a few miles inside a time machine to come up with something similar to that particular observation.

A little holy confusion with Dr. Martin Luther King perhaps?

LNP `poster-boy' Peter Dutton is a dud

170 LNP preselectors have told Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull his front bencher Peter Dutton is not up to scratch.

Senior Liberal frontbencher Peter Dutton suffered a shock defeat in the preselection battle for the safe Gold Coast federal seat of McPherson.

Despite the strong backing of former prime minister John Howard and current Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Dutton was rejected in favour of local Karen Andrews.

Dutton, the Opposition health spokesman, now faces an uncertain future, having abandoned his own seat of Dickson when a redistribution made it unwinnable.

Read The Courier Mail's report here.

pic credit: smh.com.au

Taking Neighbourhood Watch that step too far?

Sometimes it's hard not to gasp aloud when a particular piece of local gossip comes one's way.

The latest is that a certain Neighbourhood Watch committee is tentatively considering allowing a person found guilty of criminal offences to join as a volunteer member.

A rather novel idea to say the least - stretching membership demographics so far.

I'm sure that the NSW Police Force as insurance policy holder for and active partner with Neighbourhood Watch NSW would be most impressed.

So impressed that a NSW Police Local Area Command could perhaps exercise the right to wind up any NHW group where police are satisfied that it is no longer functioning effectively?

No wonder the committee seems to feel a move like this might be explosive.

What on earth were they drinking thinking at the time?

Cartoon: Best of the Web