National Consumer Fraud Week 2011 is all about you. Running from 7 to 13 March, Scams: It’s Personal focuses on the personal side and impact of scams, and how we can fight fraud that occurs on the home front.
Scammers do not stop at anything to target victims, including adopting a personal touch. Increasingly scammers are finding ways to get information about your personal profile and use this to play on your relationships with people and organisations you know and trust.
The effects of scams on victims can be devastating, potentially causing psychological, financial, familial and social harm. Scams can also have a considerable impact on business. Fraudsters often misuse people’s trust in reputable brands or companies, having the power to shake consumer confidence to the core.
Scammers don’t discriminate – they’ll target anyone, be it yourself, a loved one, small or big business, community organisation, charity or government. They also use a myriad of ways to slip under your radar including a phone call, SMS, letter, email, fax, blog, online chat or dating service.
Tips to keep scammers at arm’s length
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers
DON’T RESPOND Ignore suspicious emails, letters, phone calls or text messages – press ‘delete’, throw them out or just hang up
DON’T LET SCAMMERS PUSH YOUR BUTTONS Scammers will play on your emotions to get what they want
RESIST THE PERSONAL TOUCH Watch out for scammers posing as someone that you know and trust, or pretending to know you
Don’t let scammers into your life – protect your identity.
National Consumer Fraud Week events 7 to 13 March 2011
Monday 7 March
Launch of National Consumer Fraud Week 2011 running from 7 to 13 March ACFT campaign 2011 - Scams: it's personal
Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce scams survey 2011 - hosted on the Australian Institute of Criminology website.
Tuesday 8 March
Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce Supporting Victims of Scams agency forum - hosted by the ACCC. * This event is now full
Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce You, Me and Scams partners event - hosted by the ACCC. * This event is now full
Australian Institute of Criminology paper release - Consumer Fraud in Australia: Online Surveys 2008 and 2009.
Thursday 10 March
Australian Communications Consumer Action Network launch and screening of Internet Scams: how to protect yourself AUSLAN videos for deaf and hard of hearing communities - A consumer education initiative by the WA Deaf Society funded through ACCAN's Grants Scheme. Event runs from 9am to 10am at Hoyts - Broadway Shopping Centre Sydney. All are welcome - see invite for more details.
ACCC launch ACCAN Internet Scams: how to protect yourself AUSLAN videos on SCAMwatch.
Friday 11 March
Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce seminar featuring Mike Haley, Director of Interventions, UK National Fraud Authority - hosted by the Australian Institute of Criminology. Event runs from 11am to 12pm at the AIC office, 74 Leichhardt Street Griffith ACT and is open to government and academics. See the AIC website for more details.
2011 partners of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce
The work of the ACFT is greatly assisted by a growing number of government, business and community group partners. ACFT partners all recognise the seriousness of consumer fraud in Australasia and are committed to disseminating the ACFT's message to consumers during National Consumer Fraud Week.