Victorians Befooled by Frauds & Scams

As per a survey conducted by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the inhabitants of Victorian (an Australian state) loose almost a quarter of billion dollars ($250 Million) to phishing frauds and scams. The survey also informed that during 2007, almost 222,000 Victorians had replied to such scams.

Also, the survey also revealed that Victoria has the maximum response rates for phishing scam, with around 7% of users replying to messages they received. Further, this is higher than the total Australian average.

The survey also disclosed that the four important scams to which people lost money included lotteries, pyramid schemes, phishing scams and chain letters. Security experts also claims that phishing implies to mails that deceive users into divulging their private and bank details.

Also, survey statistics revealed that anybody could be befooled by scams. The victims of the scams include equally - men and women, educated and uneducated, young and old and high earners and low earners, employed and unemployed and overseas born and Australian born.

Tony Robinson, Consumers Affair Minister, said that it was quite disturbing so many users were deceived by hackers and fraudsters, and the data of ABS revealed that anybody could be trapped by a scam, as reported by Express on August 25, 2008.

Robinson further adds that it is quite tough to catch the hackers, working through a global complex network, wrapped in advanced technology.

He also added that if a user thinks that the mail is scam, it is better not to reply and not to divulge any financial or private data. He continues saying that CAV (Consumer Affairs Victoria) will use the results of survey to inform users about how they can safeguard themselves from falling victim to scam, as reported by MoneyManagement on August 25, 2008.

Further, the ABS is cautioning Victorians to be alert of theses scams. They also provide a the Australian Bureau of Statistics Website www.consumer.vic.gov.au and a phone number to report about the scam mails.

Related article: Victorious Yahoo China Spurns Qihoo Search Engine

» SPAMfighter News - 9/2/2008