This week is National Consumer Fraud Week.
Running from May 18 to 23, National Consumer Fraud Week aims to encourage consumers and businesses to get smarter with their data and to avoid it getting into the hands of scammers.
SCAMWatch, which is run by the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission (ACCC) poses the question to consumers and businesses of whether they stop and think about the ways they keep their private information and data secure. SCAMWatch also emphasise that scammers are after more than just financial information, that they will actively seek out personal details such as dates of birth, home addresses, tax file numbers and even driver’s licence numbers. SCAMWatch also warns that scammers are known to pay people to rummage through rubbish bins and mailboxes to steal mail, bills and other documents containing personal information.
SCAMWatch have provided six tips for consumers and business to protect themselves from scammers. These tips are: keep your personal details secure, think twice about what you say and do online, keep your mobile devices and computers secure, choose passwords carefully, beware of any requests for your details and/or money and finally to get a copy of your credit report.
More information on National Consumer Fraud Week can be found here.