National Consumer Fraud Week 18 - 24 May 2015

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This week marks the start of this year’s National Cyber Security Awareness Week. Microsoft is proud to be a continued supporer of this important initiative from the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce.

If you haven’t stopped and thought about how you keep your private information secure, chances are you could be leaving it wide open for scammers to steal. When scammers get your details, they can use them for all sorts of identity crime such as making unauthorised purchases on your credit card, or using your identity to open accounts such as banking, telephone or energy services, take out loans or carry out other illegal business under your name.

Having your identity stolen can be both financially and emotionally devastating. It can take months to reclaim your identity, and the impact of having it stolen can last for years.

The good news is there are ways to minimise the risk of identity theft. National Consumer Fraud Week 2015 is all about learning how to keep your personal data safe from scammers, and prevent identity theft from happening to you.

To leave scammers out in the cold, follow SCAMwatch’s Top 6 Protect Yourself tips:
1. Keep your personal details secure
2. Think twice about what you say and do in an online environment
3. Keep your mobile devices and computers secure
4. Choose your passwords carefully
5. Beware of any request for your details or money
6. Get a copy of your credit report

If you think your banking details have been compromised, you should contact your bank or credit union immediately to let them know. If you think your identity information has been stolen, you should contact iDcare - a free government-industry service which works with you to develop specific response plans to your situation to reduce risk and impact
Visit the SCAMwatch website to find out more about the various forms of identity theft, how to protect yourself and what to do if you’ve been scammed.

Get smarter with your data
National Consumer Fraud Week 2015
An initiative of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce

Microsoft is a supporter of the Taskforce and urges you to protect yourself against scams.