Date: 2007-03-22
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Published by: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au
Consumers have been warned to protect their personal computers from cyber scammers by ensuring they have up-to-date virus and spy-ware protection. Consumer Protection Minister Sheila McHale said cyber criminals were increasingly targeting personal information such as banking details and planting damaging and costly viruses.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Consumers have been warned to protect their personal computers from cyber scammers by ensuring they have up-to-date virus and spy-ware protection.
Consumer Protection Minister Sheila McHale said cyber criminals were increasingly targeting personal information such as banking details and planting damaging and costly viruses.
“Computers are commonplace in our homes and offices today but many are vulnerable because they do not have simple protections,” Ms McHale said.
“Virus scanners and spy-ware protection are our best weapons against these predators.”
The Minister said in 2006, Australian consumers spent more than $7billion on goods and services purchased online and even more on secondhand items from sites such as e-bay.
“More and more people are using computers to do personal banking, online shopping, book travel and subscribe to competitions and they need to take precautions,” she said.
“During 2006, 32,000 email and mail scams were reported to Consumer Protection.
“In the last six months, Western Australians have reported losing more than $250,000 to scams - and many victims never report their experience or losses.”
Ms McHale said so-called ‘vishing’ or ‘voice phishing’ (pronounced - fishing) was the latest variation of attempts to steal consumers’ identities using their computers.
Phishing emails often come in the guise of a bank, credit card or online trading company asking people to verify or update online details by clicking on a link.
The link takes the individual to a fake ‘look-alike’ website. Once people fill in their details, scammers access bank account, credit card or identity details.
Vishing emails ask people to reply by clicking on a link. People are then requested to call a telephone number and provide confidential banking details over the phone. When the number is called, scammers use new technology that records digits, such as account numbers, entered into the telephone.
The Minister said the cyber criminals behind the scams were committing a Federal offence and warned people not to respond to these emails in any way.
“Consumer Protection works with its interstate and Federal counterpart agencies to identify offenders,” she said.
“In addition, the Government’s WA ScamNet carries regularly updated warnings and information about scams.
“We are putting scammers on notice that we are doing everything possible to make WA an unprofitable hunting ground for them.”
Ms McHale said people could protect their computers by:
keeping virus, spy-ware and other computer security up to date;
not respond to unsolicited emails;
being wary of pop up boxes in websites; and
if in doubt, deleting messages without opening them.
Report spam to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at http://www.acma.gov.au
ACMA’s online service called SpamMATTERS can be downloaded on to your computer, which allows you to simultaneously delete spam and report it to ACMA with one click of your mouse.
Minister's office - 9213 6900