Aussies Suckered By Scams

As Fraud Week begins, a Federal taskforce is looking into ways of making sure Australians don’t get scammed online.

In the wake of a recent report showing that gullible Aussies forked over the best part of $70 million in scams in 2009, the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT) is set to give out guidelines on how to protect you and your business.

The proliferation of online scams has significantly increased the chances of Australians falling victim to fraud, and it is the focus for the ACFT 2010 Fraud Week campaign.
ACCC activities planned for Fraud Week include the release of the first ACCC scams activity report and new information for small businesses on how they can protect themselves from scams.

The aim of the ACFT is to reduce the incidence and impact of fraud and scams. Each year it creates a co-ordinated information campaign for consumers, timed to coincide with the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) Global Consumer Fraud Prevention Month. ICPEN is currently chaired by the ACCC.

The ACFT’s work is greatly assisted by a growing number of government, business and community group partners.

Formed in March 2005 the ACFT, which is chaired by ACCC deputy chair Peter Kell, involves 21 government agencies from Australia and New Zealand with responsibility for consumer protection regarding frauds and scams.

As well as the ACFT agencies, in 2010 more than 115 public, private and community sector partners will participate in Fraud Week by providing information to staff, stakeholders and customers via websites and media activities.