New Tools to Help Spot and Combat Scams
As part of Scams Awareness Week, the NSW Government is introducing new tools to protect people from the growing threat of data breaches and scams. The initiative includes a Scam Spotting Resource and an online Data Breach Portal to help the public verify the legitimacy of breach notifications.
According to the National Anti-Scam Centre, 2023 saw a 20% increase in reported scams, resulting in 601,000 scams and $2.7 billion in losses. Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib emphasised the importance of staying safe online and outlined how these new resources will help individuals better identify scams and take action when their data is compromised.
“Young people aged 18 to 24 are at greater risk of falling victim to scams, and the number of reported scams among people under 18 has nearly quadrupled since last year,” according to the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Key new tools include:
- Online Teacher’s Toolkit: Developed by ID Support NSW, this toolkit equips students in years 9 to 12 with the skills to recognize and protect themselves from scams. The toolkit features interactive activities, quizzes, videos, and case studies, along with practical tips such as regularly changing passwords and avoiding sharing personal information online.
- Data Breach Portal: This portal allows people to verify if an email from ID Support NSW notifying them of a data breach is legitimate. In 2023, ID Support NSW notified nearly 200,000 people that their personal information had been compromised.
- Personal Information Risk Assessment Tool (PIRAT): This tool helps individuals and businesses assess the security risks of storing customer data and provides a risk level based on the likelihood of cybercriminal activity. It can be used both proactively and after a data breach.
For more information or to use these tools, visit:
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