The Government today announced a new national information initiative
to help combat the growing number of scams being targeted at Australian consumers.
Senator Ian Campbell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer,
announced the release of a new consumer publication, The Little Black Book of
Scams and a Web site, www.scamwatch.gov.au that aim to raise consumer awareness
of the different types of scams that exist and how to deal with them.
"I am committed to equipping consumers with the information
they need to both identify scams and defeat them. Unfortunately, many people
are prone to the influence of scammers by being unaware of their tricks and
too trusting in accepting their deals," said Senator Campbell.
"For instance, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC) is currently prosecuting an organisation called Greenstar in the Federal
Court in Perth, which the Commission believes is involved in an illegal pyramid
selling scam involving worm farming and an ATM card scheme. The Commission alleges
Australian consumers and investors could have lost up to $10 million,"
said Senator Campbell.
"That sort of money redirected into quality managed investment
schemes or other Australian companies would help to build the economy, rather
than undermine it along with the lives of so many individuals," said Senator
Campbell.
The Little Black Book of Scams and the Scamwatch Web site have
information on a wide range of consumer scams including unsolicited letters,
investment scams, miracle cures and Internet scams. They also include information
about what the key elements are of any scam.
"Part of the difficulty in shutting down scams is that they invariably crop up again in slightly different forms. For example, today's Nigerian Scam, where a consumer receives a letter or an e-mail from a fictitious Nigerian exile wanting to transfer millions of dollars, is just a variation on the Spanish Prisoner scam which dates back to 1588. The only difference is that the original scam used parchment and the promise of a hidden treasure chest," said Senator Campbell.
"That is why it is important for consumers to understand the basic tricks
behind most scams and always be one step ahead of the scammers. By picking up
a free copy of The Little Black Book of Scams, a consumer can quickly understand
the key things to look for when being approached by someone with a special offer,"
said Senator Campbell.
"There is no shame in being scammed either. It is important for people
to report scams to consumer protection agencies so that action can be taken
and others can benefit. People who may feel ashamed to speak up shouldn't feel
alone, as even the smartest of consumers can be tricked by a clever scammer.
I hope that these new information resources serve to expose these shady and
often secretive practices to the wider public," said Senator Campbell.
Copies of the Little Black Book of Scams can be obtained from the Consumer
Affairs Division of the Treasury on 02 6263 3300 or by e-mail at publications@treasury.gov.au.
CANBERRA
15 March 2002
Contact: Tammie Webb, Senator Campbell's Office
02 6277 3955 or 0417 400 227;
http://parlsec.treasurer.gov.au
WA MEDIA: Copies of The Little Black Book of Scams will be available from Senator Campbell's Perth office by calling 08 9325 4227.