Commerce: Consumer Protection

Consumer Redress

Effectiveness of Orginisations

• Report To Police, who will direct you to IDCARE
• Prove The Crime To Commonwealth
• It is a federal offence to dishonestly obtain financial information without the consent of the person to whom the information relates
• Receive A Victim's Certificate

• Norton Lifelock
• Blocks people's information on public WiFi
• Alerts users when threats are detected
• Would have been useful if person was subscribed the person would have received reimbursal of at least $25000
• Most likely would have alerted the user of the threat
• IDCARE
• Provides advice to people regarding identity theft and other scams
• Conducts research and shares information regarding cyber threats to the public.
• Would have been useful, as it responds to the threat
• Warns Public About Such Cases

Scams

Our Evaluation

• Fraudulent Scheme/Illegal Trick performed by dishonest individuals/groups/companies
• Different types of scams include:
• Health and Medical Product Scams
• Investment Scams
• Money Scams

• Victim should immediately change their personal details and disable all their credit cards
• Should be taken to court so as to clear your name
• Recommend the victim to apply for a Commonwealth Victim’s Certificate
• Contact IDCARE for help in:
• Responding to the scam
• Obtaining lost money
• Make the scam public in order to gain awareness

Ripoffs

• Refers to bad transactions where:

• The purchased good/service is overpriced

Or

• The good/service does not meet expectations when compared to prices

• Often takes the form of fraud or swindle

3) Bibliography

2) Identity Theft

1) Outlining and Definitions

2A) Description

2B) Reference to Relevant Legislation

2C) Effectiveness of Organisations

2D) Consumer Redress

2E) Evaluation

• https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/news/how-criminals-steal-your-identity-information-to-steal-your-money
• https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/get-help/real-life-stories/scam-victims-tell-us-their-stories/identity-theft-i-lost-6028-when-scammers-stole-my-identity
• https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/identity-theft.html
• https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015C00507
• https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/crime/frauds_and_scams/fraud_categories/identity_theft
• https://www.alrc.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/108_vol1.pdf
• https://www.idcare.org
• https://www.lifelock.com/
• https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/news/how-criminals-steal-your-identity-information-to-steal-your-money
• https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/get-help/real-life-stories/scam-victims-tell-us-their-stories/identity-theft-i-lost-6028-when-scammers-stole-my-identity

Contents:

- Scams

- Ripoffs

- Bait and switch

- Unsolicited goods

Bait and Switch

• Product is advertised at a significantly lower price
• Attracts consumers, and then claim, that they ran out of products
• Leads to the advertisement of other products in the shop

Description

Reference to Relevant Legislation

• Fraud that involves the faking of identity so as to gain financial or other benefits
• Once stolen, these personal details can help the scammer obtain whatever you have
• Can leave you financially and/or emotionally devastated
• First received an SMS stating a change in network providers
• As soon as she realised that her identity was compromised, she contacted her bank
• Whilst the victim was trying to take action, she started recieving emails stating various personal details being changed
• She informed her consultant about the situation immediately
• By the time her consultant blocked her accounts and credit cards, the scammer got away with $6028

Unsolicited goods

• Criminal Code Act 1995 73.10
• NSW General Fraud Offence (Section 192E)
• A person that obtains anothers information and/or gains a finacial advantage while leaving the victim at a financial disadvantage is proven guilty of fraud
• Law should be changed as there is a lack of protection for the rights of consumers

Reccomendations to change the legislation have already been made by ALRC 2010 report for future laws

Breach Notification: Agencies and organisations are required to inform individuals when their information is disclosed without their authority

This would be effective as action can be taken before the scammer can do anything

- goods sent to a person that has not made a payment

- Used by companies to promote their products in ways such as samples

- exposes the brand to the consumer

- illegal to demand payment for unsolicited good

- unsolicited good can be kept by consumer

Commerce: Consumer Protection

by Aditya, Shabbar,

Jazib and Neel