Cyber criminals and identity thieves have been put on notice thanks to a new partnership between NSW Police and ID Support NSW which will leverage the expertise of the agencies to fight cybercrime and create a faster and more effective response to identity theft.
A Memorandum of Understanding between NSW Police and ID Support NSW will enable more streamlined sharing of information and build on the success of a recent operation in Bankstown.
The partnership heralds a new era in efforts to protect the public from the ever-growing threat of identity fraud, data breaches, scams, and other types of cybercrime. It also strengthens the NSW Government’s ability to educate people about what to do if they fall victim to threats.
Recently, an investigation by Bankstown Region Enforcement Squad saw officers seize approximately 14,000 identity documents allegedly being used in a fraudulent scheme most likely obtained during various data breaches.
Efforts between State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad and ID Support NSW saw 959 individuals identified as being potentially impacted; all of whom were contacted to alert them of the compromise and supported in taking steps to prevent it happening again.
ID Support NSW, within Cyber Security NSW, helps people restore their stolen or misused identity documents and shares free resources and tools with individuals, groups, and small businesses to protect against identity theft and data breaches. With a no wrong doors policy, if someone fears their identity has been stolen, ID Support NSW should be the first call they make.
“We know that identity theft is an increasing risk, with criminals targeting Australians for their identity credentials which can be stolen or misuse,” said NSW Minister for Customer Service Jihad Dib. “ID Support NSW is a key part of Cyber Security NSW, with the team working closely with government agencies to respond to data breaches and identity theft each week.”
“We want NSW residents to know that ID Support NSW is here to help with personalised guidance through our support line and guidance on proactive steps you can take to protect your identity following a breach,“ said Digital NSW Digital Secretary Laura Christie. “The partnership between ID Support and NSW Police will amplify both team’s abilities to respond to incidents and provide help for victims of identity theft, fraud and scams.”
“Our partnership with ID Support NSW marks a significant step forward in our efforts to protect the public from the ever-growing threat of identity theft, data breaches, scams, and other types of cybercrime,” said NSW Police Cybercrime Squad Commander Matt Craft. “It enhances our ability to educate the public and provide critical support to those affected by cybercrime, and it also underscores our commitment to leveraging all available resources to stay ahead of would-be cyber criminals and to support victims.”
