Cyber Security Awareness Month; Cyber Security is Everyone’s Business
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, a time for all Australians to talk about cyber security and take action to protect their devices and accounts.
The theme for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2024 is Cyber security is everyone’s business. And it is everyone’s business.
In recent years, property transactions have increasingly been targeted by cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities in the digital landscape.
Just recently, a couple was defrauded of AUD $500,000 after their conveyancer’s email was compromised, and a New South Wales couple were scammed out of nearly $49,000 in settlement funds.
As the world becomes increasingly digitised, scammers become more deviant, and while some focus in breaking into emails to get information about large transactions, or send phishing emails, and text messages, other scammers focus on stealing driver licences, passports and other identification to open new bank accounts.
Scammers are persistent; this news article explains a sophisticated investment scam which saw a mother and son preparing to build and move into a dual-occupancy home lose the $200,000 they needed to build the property.
How to recognise and avoid scams
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) urges you to check payment details directly with businesses before paying an email invoice.
- STOP – Don’t rush to act. Scammers will create a sense of urgency.
- THINK – Ask yourself if you really know who you are communicating with? Scammers can impersonate others and lie about who they are – especially online.
- PROTECT– Act quickly if something feels wrong. If you have shared financial information or transferred money, contact your bank immediately.
- HELP OTHERS – report suspicious contact or activity to Scamwatch
The Government’s moneysmart website has tips to how to spot the signs of a wide variety of scams.
How to improve your cyber security
Cyber security is everyone’s business, and it’s important for everyone to take action to secure their accounts and devices from cyber threats.
This October, the Australian Cyber Security Centre is encouraging Australians to take 4 simple steps to improve their cyber security:
- Turn on multi-factor authentication.
- Keep devices and software up to date.
- Use strong and unique passwords, such as a passphrase.
- Recognise and report phishing.
Find out more about Cyber Security Awareness Month, and share the message with your family, friends, colleagues and network this October.
As a family run business, everyone who entrusts their property with us is our extended family – and like any family, we keep you safe and protected; as well as caring and managing your property, ensuring you are operating within the law, we also ensure your data is safe and securely stored.
If you’d like to know more about property management and property investment, call us on 02 4956 9777, send us an email to mail@newcastlepropertymanagement.com.au or pop into our Cardiff office for a chat to see how our property management services can help.
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