How To Protect

Yourself Online

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Scams are everywhere

• Top scams for 2011 and 2012

• Current scams:– “Phishing” and Phoney fraud alerts

– Phoney fraud alerts

– Credit card scams and card “skimming”

– Nigerian 419 scams

– Work from home scams

– Auction and shopping

– Spyware

– Cheque overpayment, banking and online account

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What should I do if I’m scammed?

• Contact ACCC on 1 300 302 502 or online at www.accc.gov.au

• Government has a new site to monitor and report on scams in Australia– www.scamwatch.gov.au

– Call 1 300 795 995

• Immediately cancel your credit card and contact your bank or financial institution

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Is online shopping safe?

• No laws in Australia dealing with online shopping

• Normal consumer protection applies to goods and services

• Purchasing with credit cards:– Saving details for future purchases?

– Phone and internet payments-no presence required

– Beware dumpster diving and magstripe copying

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How can I protect myself shopping online?

• Check refund/warranty guarantee policies

• Look for privacy and security policies

• Do due diligence: check reviews, scams

• Beware of hidden shipping, duty and other costs

• Look for recognized secure/protect signs or icons

• Credit cards all have secure systems online (i.e. Verified by Visa) and look for „padlock‟ on screen

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What about buying overseas?

• Consumer laws only protect within Australia

• Customs seize or duty may apply; GST applies

• Check with Customs, check price is AUD

• To protect:– Check trader (ASIC search)

– Return, refund, warranty, insurance for loss/damage

– Complaints handling/dispute resolution

– Privacy, security and reviews

– Check country warning-high risk

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Trust icons to look out for

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How else can I protect myself?

• Change your passwords and PIN regularly

• Have alternative payment methods to credit cards for online purchases: i.e. PayPal

• Will an Online store keep your personal info private– Check privacy policy and reviews online

• Ensure your bank uses high end encryption– SSL and padlock

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Is online banking safe?

SSL and „https‟

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Is online banking safe?

• Never enter personal details in a site with a broken padlock or key

• Never enter personal details in a site that is missing the “s” on “https”

• If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately

• NEVER use hotspots!

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Safe password practices

• Never use birthday, address, telephone number

• Change them regularly

• Longer is better– Use combination of numbers & letters

• Regularly update your home/business computer with anti-virus and anti-spyware protection

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What direction is Australia going?

• New Australian Consumer Protection legislation started January 2012

• New regulations and guidelines relating to– Product safety

– Consumer rights

– Guarantees and warranties

– Receipts and invoices

– Reporting

• ALL businesses, both goods and services

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Consumer protection highlights

• False and misleading advertising– Including price, origin, style and value

• Stricter definition of product safety– Plus new reporting requirements

• Warranty– Fit-for-purpose, refund, servicing and parts

• Unfair term in your contract will make it null & void

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Your private bits

• Privacy laws are changing around the world

• Look for websites that have privacy policy: if they collect your information - they should have one!

• PP should tell you what they collect, how they collect, how they use, how they store & keep secure

• Never give your details in an email or by other unencrypted means

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Privacy legislation

• Australia has strong and strict Privacy Laws

• Difficulty online-cannot legislate other countries

• Within Australia: require any external suppliers and providers to have same privacy restrictions

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JP duties and electronic documents

• Can I certify an electronic document?

– No, an electronic document cannot be considered an original document

– includes a scanned image, a word processing file or any electronic file format, including files in Portable Document Format (PDF)

– If a person asks you to certify a copy of a document sent to you by email, fax or other electronic means, you must decline to certify the copy

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And lastly, best evidence

• These days of electronic signatures, fax machines, scanners mean the courts are faced with new evidence

• The digital evidence/electronic evidence

• Technology changing quickly requiring courts and court evidence to move in line with requirements

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More information?

Go to www.Legal123.com.au

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