The Devil You Know: Cybercrime in the Domestic and Family violence context
Many of the tactics cybercriminals use to spy on?and isolate their victims also have a?sinister application in the family home. The same technology is being used to help facilitate domestic and family violence.
We know that technology-faced abused is experienced in 99.3% of domestic and family violence (DFV) situations.
Our?latest subscriber Monthly Insights report looked at over 500 suspected DFV?cases?reported to IDCARE in the last year.
These cases included clients who had experienced identity theft, fraud, or digital-facilitated harassment from someone close to them.
Key findings included:
Technology also allowed DFV offenders to stalk their former partners.
Popular tracking apps such as "Find my iPhone" and family sharing were being used and some clients have reported having to buy a new device to stop this from happening. But this isn't always a safeguard if entry channels are compromised.
Thankfully, many banks and telcos are working to have specialised services for DFV clients. It's worth asking your bank or telco for assistance if you are concerned, or know someone who may be.
IDCARE also helps clients with advice on how to protect their identities going forward. and we refer victims to other services, such as the eSafety Commissioner for extra support.?
If you are, or you know someone experiencing domestic and family violence, please reach out for help.?
Family and domestic violence support services
Australia:
1800 Respect National Helpline : 1800 737 732
Women's Crisis Line : 1800 811 811
Men's Referral Service : 1300 766 491
Lifeline : 131 114
New Zealand
Women’s Refuge crisis line : 0800 733 843
Shine Helpline : 0508 744 633
Scams,?Screams and CROC in the Northern Territory
In Tennant Creek, Bonita Thompson clicked on a Facebook article that Paul Hogan had died (he hasn't!) and her computer screen froze and appeared to be hacked. A pop-up with a number to call for Microsoft appeared with a phone number to solve the problem. She phoned the number and gave a criminal remote access to her computer to "fix" the problem.
In Alice Springs, Judy Berghan had her handbag stolen with her iPhone, driver licence, credit cards and other valuable cards stolen and $20,000 was transferred out of her bank account. She doesn't know yet what other harm has been done.
In Darwin, a client who has asked to remain anonymous was looking for better interest rate options and clicked on a sponsored website promising good rates. Over a year and after transferring $260,000, she was contacted by a "recovery agency" representing a "law firm" telling her she had been scammed. And then she was scammed again by the criminal pretending to be a law firm.
This is just a small snapshot of some of the stories our Cyber Resilience Outreach Clinics team heard while travelling the Northern Territory with Neighbourhood Watch to increase awareness and education in communities.
The Clinics were sponsored by ANZ, Westpac and Meta - who also sent their colleagues to volunteer at some of the sessions.
At Alice Springs first ever Safety Expo, there were over 27 stall holders including police, firies, the SES, the Royal Flying Doctor (who brought their own simulated plane - how cool!) sharing on everything safety across one morning.
We even had the police Assistant Commissioner, Janelle Tonkin, share her Scream at a Scammer.
The Clinics have been very well received because they incorporate the key ingredients of success in the education space:
Collaboration: We are collaborating with major banks, ANZ and Westpac, and Meta as they know their clients living in their areas and provide advice on their platforms.
Champions: We partner with Champions living in the community, like Neighbourhood Watch NT, as they live in the regions, know the contacts, and can organise events to have impact and also remain as contacts after the event to ensure that impact lasts
A genuine, in-person presence: We stay in the areas, experience the frustration of the poor internet connections, the expense of living there, the ??'s and we talk to people face-to-face.
We are busy planning our CROCs for the next two years. It's not too late to get involved. Register your interest as a sponsor, a champion, or a community group by emailing [email protected] .
How IDCARE can help your small business
Australia has been built on the backbone of small businesses. They account for around 98% of businesses nationwide. They are also an attractive target for cybercriminals. This October is international Cyber Security Awareness Month and IDCARE is inviting all small business owners to join in a free webinar to understand how our national support service can help you. The webinar will be hosted by our founder and Managing Director, Dr David Lacey, who has helped thousands of businesses - big and small - navigate breaches and cyber incidents since our launch in 2014.
Date: Monday, 14 October, 2024
Time: 11am - 12pm (AEST)
Register at IDCARE.org/register
领英推荐
Why do we believe scammers? Sharing insights with the world
Why do people respond to scammers? What’s the psychology behind it? Can we do more to stop it? ??
These are some of the questions that have kept our founder and Managing Director, Dr David Lacey, awake at night.
It started in 2017 when we had over a hundred community members a week believe they would be arrested if they didn’t pay the tax office in iTunes cards.
“Ever since then, I’ve been hooked into understanding the science behind the psychology of deception,” Dr Lacey said.
This month, he presented his insights on the psychology of deception at the premier international conference on CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference #CYPSY27?in Tempe, Arizona.
Other speakers included Dr J. Galen Buckwalter, one of the first 25 people in the world to receive a neural implant to research the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Dr Lacey didn’t only present to experts across the world; he attended the conference to take the baton to bring it home.
For the first time ever, the international cyberpsychology conference is coming to the Southern Hemisphere in 2025, and IDCARE will be the host.
Early opportunities to register your interest to be part of this internationally acclaimed event can be submitted at www.cypsy28.com .
Behind the Mask: A Guide to New and Trending Scams
A sickening twist to sextortion scams?
Sextortion scams are taking a new twist. Now criminals aren't only threatening to share sexually explicitly photographs a person may have sent them, believing they were in a relationship, they are creating them. Our National Case Management Centre has been receiving contact from clients who have had their social media images stolen and then digitally altered to appear sexually explicit. The criminal then threatens to share the photographs with family and friends unless funds are paid. In some cases where the criminal has gained access to the person's social media profile, they may even share the photographs with a few family and friends to prove the threat is real.
OUR TIPS
It is important you change your settings on your social media profile so that you only share images with those you choose, and others aren't allowed access. This is easy to do, go to the Settings tab in your social media accounts and look for the Privacy Checkup under Tools and Resources. It will guide you through who can see what you share on your account. .
Scammers Posing as myGov during Tax Season
An ongoing tax-season scam continues to target Australians, with criminals posing as myGov to steal personal information and tax refunds. One victim recently received an email titled “Urgent: Tax Refund Notification – Immediate Action Required”, urging them to click a link and log in to their myGov account. The email contained a link that appeared to direct them to their myGov inbox, but instead led to a fake website designed to harvest personal and financial details. This classic phishing scam is widespread: since the start of the year, IDCARE has received over 7,500 reports of myGov, ATO, or Centrelink account misuse.
Scammers exploit the fact that many Australians file their tax returns between July and the end of the year. If you’ve recently submitted your return, receiving a refund notification seems believable – and that’s what the scammers rely on. In some cases, they use stolen identity details to access legitimate myGov accounts, filing fake tax returns and redirecting refunds to their own accounts. The ATO has reported that over $557 million has been stolen in recent years through scams exploiting the tax system. Many victims only realise they’ve been scammed when they attempt to file their own tax return, only to find someone has already lodged one in their name.
OUR TIPS
If you receive an email claiming to be from myGov during tax season, be cautious. myGov will never ask you to:
Always access myGov by typing “my.gov.au” directly into your browser or using the official myGov app. If something feels suspicious, stop communication, block the sender, and report the incident to authorities.
The News and Views You Didn't Want to Miss?
Tech firms to face $50m fines under new Scams Code:?The federal government is developing a Scam Code Act, which will give it broad powers to potentially impose fines of up to $50 million on telcos, banks and social media companies who do not do enough to stop scams. See more
New Zealand hit hard by financial scams as global cyberattacks surge:?A recent threat report has revealed a 46% increase in global cyberattacks during the second quarter of 2024, with New Zealand among the countries most impacted by financial scams. See more
52 data breaches in seven months in NSW: NSW government agencies, councils and universities are being urged to undertake “cyber security uplifts” after collectively reporting 52 data breaches in the seven months to June 2024.?See more
And now for some good news. Meta and the? Australian banks have had progress on taking down 'celeb bait' scam ads. See more
Have a Scam, Identity, or Cyber-Related Question? Ask Dr. David Lacey!
Having dealt with countless cases of scams, identity theft, and cybercrime, Dr. David Lacey is one of Australia’s most respected experts in the field. He is highly sought after by both government and industry for his unique insights into the online criminal environment. In this edition of Cyber Sushi, Dr. Lacey is inviting you to submit your questions – and we will answer them. Send your questions to [email protected] .
Our question today comes from Geraldine.
Dear Dr. Lacey,??I've been receiving a lot of emails with QR codes lately. I'm kind of familiar with them (thanks to Covid) and I also see them at restaurants, but I've heard they might not be safe? Can you advise?
Regards.
Geraldine
Answer:
Dear Geraldine,
Yes, we've all become a lot more familiar with QR (Quick Response) codes since the pandemic. What's interesting about QR codes is that they've been around a lot longer than the last four years. They were initially created three decades ago by a Japanese company called Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, for the automotive industry as an improvement to the bar code.
Criminals like using QR codes to send out in their phishing messages. It's called quishing. One of the reasons it is effective is that because a QR code is, essentially, an image, it may bypass email filters designed to block out scams and spam. This way, QR codes can land in the inboxes of anyone and because we have become conditioned to thinking our email filters will remove the rubbish, we may be more inclined to scan them. When doing this, it may redirect to a malicious website or prompt you to download malicious software that can monitor your online activity.
As with any incoming email or text message, it is important to treat a message with a QR code as suspicious. Check who the message is coming from and consider why they are asking you to scan the QR code.? While QR codes are generally fine for online surveys or restaurant menus, if you are being redirected to a website asking for login details or download options - it's most likely a scam.
Best regards,
Dr. Lacey