The document outlines various online safety tips to protect against scams, specifically detailing common scams, online shopping safety, and consumer protection laws in Australia. It emphasizes the importance of due diligence when shopping online, the need for strong privacy measures, and guidance on safe online banking practices. Additionally, it highlights changes in privacy legislation and consumer rights to enhance online security.

1. How To Protect
Yourself Online
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2. 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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3. 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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4. 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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5. 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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6. 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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7. Trust icons to look out for
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8. 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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9. Is online banking safe?
SSL and „https‟
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10. 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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11. 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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12. 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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13. 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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14. 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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15. 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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16. 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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17. 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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18. More information?
Go to www.Legal123.com.au
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