Security fears for Aussie consumers

Peter Dinham
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 10:36

Business IT - Security

“If this means the process is a little more complex, that is a sacrifice that most people are happy to wear. Their paramount concern is that this information is dealt with in an appropriate way and that they retain control over it as much as possible.”
 
Salmat says the survey found that 67 per cent of Australians are concerned about fraud and identity theft (up from 63 per cent in 2008), while 62 per cent have become more careful about sharing their personal information over the past couple of years (up from 58 per cent in 2008).  It also revealed that 56 per cent of people felt uncomfortable providing personal details over the phone to a call centre representative.

“An alarming 37 per cent of the survey respondents had either experienced identity fraud or theft themselves, or had a friend or family member who had fallen victim to these crimes, Magee cautioned.

“The threat of identity theft and fraud has become a very real concern,” added Magee. “Identity crime is one of the fastest growing offences across the globe, and Australia is no exception.”