Computer fraud in Australia
Michael Vaughan · 2012
A scam is any dishonest confidence trick intended to deprive the victim of his or her money, personal information and even identity. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) received 83,000 reports of confidence trick schemes in 2011. Overall, A$1.4 billion is lost to Australia each year through this criminal activity. Con men typically lack empathy and are callous towards the feelings, rights and suffering of those they deceive and exploit. They are of above average intelligence and are primarily motivated by greed or paying off gambling debts. In 2003, 150 persons accused of fraudulently stealing A$260.5 million stood trial in Australian Courts. 76% of them were convicted and sentenced to full custodial jail terms. Alternative use of the A$1.4 billion stolen each year by fraudsters would be to train 79,545 Nurses; or 59,322 Secondary School Teachers; or 41,916 Pharmacists. The money could also build 29 High Schools; or 14 major Arterial Roads; or four major Hospitals. Con men pretending to be Microsoft employees are still operating a sophisticated scam - netting them an estimated A$513,820 a year across Eastern and Western Australia. Police and regulatory authorities in Australia cannot apprehend or prosecute such fraudsters because the con men convince victims to voluntarily give their money for non-existent computer 'repairs' and are based overseas, outside Australian jurisdiction. New laws are needed to cope with, prosecute and punish new crimes.