RU in Control? New Campaign Targets Fraud

Cyber, identity and corporate crime.


Article heading image for RU in Control? New Campaign Targets Fraud

Late last week Commissioner Ian Stewart announced the ‘R U in Control?’ campaign, aimed at empowering Queenslanders and helping them avoid becoming a victim of cyber and financial crime.

The Commissioner said it had been estimated that organised crime costs the Australian economy $21 billion per year with $8.5 billion of that figure directly related to cyber, identity and corporate crime.

“While police and other agencies work to prevent these crimes and apprehend those who target vulnerable Queenslanders, it is important we fight this battle as a united front and take the control back from these fraudsters and scammers,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“Too many Queensland businesses and individuals are being targeted by criminals stealing data for use in other crimes or holding businesses to ransom for large sums of money.

“We are also seeing vulnerable Queenslanders targeted daily with cold call investment scams, malicious emails and fake website scams,” Commissioner Stewart said.

The R U in Control? campaign offers practical advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of these scams, what to look out for and how to report a crime.

“As we continue to embrace technology at a rapid pace, there are more opportunities than ever before for these criminals to reach us. Unfortunately, due to our trusting nature, fraudsters see Australians as soft targets,” Detective Superintendent Terry Lawrence of the Financial and Cyber Crimes Group said.

“It only takes us to let our guard down for a moment and click on a link in an email for the damage to be done. The costs, both financially and emotionally, can be substantial to families and businesses.

“By arming ourselves with knowledge, awareness and practical advice, we can take the control back and stop these criminals in their tracks,” Detective Superintendent Lawrence said.

The campaign was launched at the Brisbane Ekka last week and will be complemented by a video featuring finance expert David Koch: https://d2haxmvzil2swt.cloudfront.net/uploads/2017/08/11/10376_RU_In_Control_Master_11082017.mp4

More information on the R U in Control? campaign can be found at www.myPolice.qld.gov.au/incontrol

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

 

19 August 2017




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