New laws to target identity fraud

Fraudsters who use sites like Facebook to try to steal people's identity will be the target of new laws being introduced into parliament this week. With people living so much of their lives on the internet these days, identity fraud is a growing problem that costs the nation at least $1 billion every year.

The crime can include a variety of offences from using another person's credit card
details to stealing their personal information to open bank accounts and take out
loans.
Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus revealed on Tuesday the government would introduce
draft laws this week aimed at combating the fraud, which has been exacerbated by
social websites like Facebook.
"If you place personal information on a site like Facebook, then you can provide
enough information for perpetrators to steal an identity and open accounts for an
individual," he told parliament.
"The problem (of identity fraud) ... is evidently widespread in the world and our
laws need to be updated to reflect emerging problems."
The new laws will include offences for misusing identification to commit an offence
or having equipment capable of creating false impression.
"Those charges will help police in all jurisdictions to more effectively investigate
and prosecute offences because a specific offence will exist," Mr Debus said.
Victims will also benefit from measures aimed at helping them rehabilitate their
credit histories.
"All jurisdictions will be empowered to issue certificates to victims of identity
crime to help them re-establish their credit histories," Mr Debus said.
"Victims will be able to get a court order to reclaim their identity after a
prosecution for identity crime or even after they become aware that their identity
has been stolen.
"That will help victims to recover their identities and again use facilities in
banks and other financial institutions which had been denied to them by the crime
committed against them."