Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Australians encouraged to fight online fraud
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today encouraged Australians to fight online fraud during National Consumer Fraud Week.
The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce’s Online Offensive - Fighting Fraud Online - will run throughout the week to increase awareness of online consumer fraud.
Senator Conroy said the National Consumer Fraud Week was an important initiative to raise awareness of online scams.
“The best way to tackle online fraud is to raise consumer awareness of the types of scams that are out there so they can take steps to protect themselves,” Senator Conroy said.
“National Consumer Fraud Week aims to educate people about some of the most common types of scams.”
These scams include phishing and spam emails, which are fake emails often pretending to be from banks or other financial institutions.
The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce estimates that one in 20 Australians is caught out by scams.
“National Consumer Fraud Week also serves as a reminder that if something sent to you online sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Senator Conroy said.
“Doing research before agreeing to anything and deleting suspicious emails without opening them are simple things everyone can do to stay smart online.”
For more information on scams and to report scams visit www.scamwatch.gov.au. To learn more about how to stay smart online visit www.staysmartonline.gov.au.
Date: 01 March 2010
Contact: Suzie Brady 0408 258 457
