Australian consumers suffer from online fraud growth

Friday, June 21, 2013 - 14:05 by Mike Price

The number of incidences of online fraud reported to the authorities in Australia increased by 65 per cent over the course of 2012, according to the latest figures.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said that as a result of these increases, people had lost the equivalent of around  56 million to scammers last year.

The malicious tactics employed by the criminals involved in this underhanded activity can be very complicated, combining elements of online activity with coercion, carried out via telephone calls and even text messages, according to The Drum.

ACCC spokesperson, Delia Rickard, said that scammers were becoming increasingly sophisticated, which means that consumers, both in Australia and internationally, need to learn to avoid their tricks and experience safe shopping online in an environment which will not leave them exposed to exploitation.