www.scamwatch.gov.au

This year’s National Consumer Fraud Week is all about you. Running from 7 to 13 March, Scams: It’s Personal focuses on the personal side and impact of scams, and how we can fight fraud that occurs on the home front.

Scammers do not stop at anything to target victims, including adopting a personal touch. Increasingly scammers are finding ways to get information about your personal profile and use this to play on your relationships with people and organisations you know and trust.

The effects of scams on victims can be devastating, potentially causing psychological, financial, familial and social harm. Scams can also have a considerable impact on business, with fraudsters’ misuse of people’s trust in reputable brands or companies having the power to shake consumer confidence to the core.

Scammers don’t discriminate – they’ll target anyone, be it yourself, a loved one, small or big business, community organisation, charity or government.  They also use a myriad of ways to slip under your radar. A phone call, SMS, letter, email, fax, blog, online chat or dating service – scammers will use any of these means to target you.

Here are some tips to keep scammers at arm’s length:

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY

Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers

DON’T RESPOND

Ignore suspicious emails, letters, phone calls or text messages – press ‘delete’, throw them out or just hang up

DON’T LET SCAMMERS PUSH YOUR BUTTONS

Scammers will play on your emotions to get what they want

RESIST THE PERSONAL TOUCH

Watch out for scammers posing as someone that you know and trust, or pretending to know you

Don’t let scammers into your life – protect your identity.

National Consumer Fraud Week is an initiative of the Aystralasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce.

ICAN is a proud Partner of the Taskforce and urges you to protect yourself against scams.

While other Australians can avoid these fees – by using their own bank’s ATM or EFTPOS – there is typically only one ATM in a remote community. All of these ATMs charge fees. EFT transactions also attract fees.

A report released today by the Australian Financial Counselling and Credit Reform Association (AFCCRA) found that ATM charges are generally either $2.00 or $2.50 per transaction, but the fee is as high as $10.00 per transaction in one community.

A person living on a Centrelink benefit receives $230 per week. ATM fees therefore often eat up between 10%-20% (and sometimes more) of an individual’s income each and every week.  “Unavoidable ATM fees are trapping Indigenous consumers in a cycle of poverty” said AFCCRA Executive Director, Fiona Guthrie. “People living in remote communities need the same access to safe and affordable banking products as everyone else and this includes the ATM payment system.”

Indigenous consumers are often frequent users of an ATM. On the day Centrelink payments are due, many people check their account balance multiple times, waiting for the payment to arrive so they can buy food.

Indigenous consumers are also more likely to withdraw small amounts of money, on multiple occasions. This can occur for budgeting reasons, for cultural reasons or because food storage in remote communities is problematic and needs to be purchased every day.

“There is no quick fix to the problem, but a solution can be found if all of the players are prepared to come to the table to find one”, said Fiona Guthrie.

· The Reserve Bank has a responsibility to act. In March 2009, they introduced an access regime for the ATM payment system with the aim of improving competition and efficiency. This has clearly failed Indigenous consumers.


· ATMs in Indigenous communities are mostly owned by private providers. But Australia’s big banks also have a role to play. If they are serious about their social responsibility and “closing the gap” they could put new ATMs into these communities and introduce some competition.


· Centrelink, ASIC and the ACCC also have obligations because of the services they provide and legislation they administer.

Click here to view report.

Media Contact: Fiona Guthrie, Executive Director, AFCCRA – 0402 426 835

James Cook University (JCU) Researcher, Jan Robertson presented on the progress and outcomes of the Money Management Program evaluations in Yarrabah and Palm Island. The information provided by JCU will be used to improve the programs in the coming year, with the final program evaluation report due to be released in January 2011.

Robynne Quiggin and Jillian Burgess from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission presented on the new national consumer credit protection legislation. ICAN Services Manager, Jon O’Mally said, “the presentation gave ICAN financial counsellors and support officers a chance to discuss how their own specific cases were affected by the new legislation.”

Sue Harten presented on legislation that the Queensland Office of Fair Trading administers and the developments to the partnership referral process. ICAN Yarrabah Team Leader Lutricia Sexton said, “It was great to discuss with Sue the various consumer issues in our community and identify our rights and responsibilities.”

Jill Lyall from WA Central TAFE and ICAN Training Coordinator Majella Anderson presented on the new Indigenous Financial Counselling Mentorship Program and held an introductory workshop. The time at the workshop gave the team a chance to begin creating a training plan for the year ahead.

Jo Ward from the 20/20 Group presented on some of ICAN’s human resource management undertakings for the year including shifting to a new award and the development of position descriptions and employment contracts. ICAN would like to acknowledge Blake Dawson for their legal support and the QLD Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation funding the services provided by the 20/20 Group.

ICAN would like to thank all of the workshop presenters including workshop facilitator and ICAN Director, Graeme Hooper who collectively made the workshop a great success. Mr. Hooper’s experience in governance training was integral to facilitating the information sharing required to produce a sound strategic business plan. ICAN CEO, Aaron Davis said, “The input from all of the ICAN team is invaluable in planning for the year ahead.”

NAB’s Indigenous Affairs Master Class is an on-line forum which provides leader’s insights into key topics and issues at the forefront of Indigenous Affairs in Australia.

The Master Class is available to you at any time at the click of a mouse. Each clip is around 8-10mins long, so grab a coffee, sit back and watch at your desk.

The first three clips feature members of NAB’s Indigenous Advisory Group who oversee and guide NAB’s engagement with Indigenous Australia:

Dr Chris Sarra on teaching Indigenous kids to aim high and how NAB is supporting the transition from school to workplace with its Indigenous school based traineeships.

Terri Janke, Indigenous business woman, lawyer and author on Indigenous Arts, intellectual property rights and practising culture through writing.

Hon Fred Chaney, on lessons of the last 30 years in Indigenous Affairs, building real relationships, business opportunities and the need for long-term commitment

To watch on the web – click here

The author is in the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Program at the University of Queensland. He is a Senior Investigations Officer at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) and has a coordinating role with the TIO’s Indigenous Liaison Team. The views expressed in the paper are personal.

To read the essay click here.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking applications from Indigenous graduates to join our Enforcement Operations team in Darwin as part of the ACCC’s 2011 Graduate Program. This is a special measures Indigenous position and is only open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

The ACCC protects consumers and promotes competition and fair trading. We employ approximately 800 staff nationally and have offices in each state and territory.

The ACCC graduate program provides the opportunity to work in a high profile, professional public service agency. As a participant in the ACCC’s graduate program you will have access to the following benefits:

• a competitive salary package, currently starting at $50,598 and increasing across the 10 month program
• extensive on-the-job learning and formal training
• career advancement

• flexible working conditions
• four weeks annual leave and the option to purchase additional leave
• travel or study leave after 12 months employment.

Start your career at the ACCC in Darwin by applying online at www.accc.gov.au/gradjobs

NILS, otherwise known as the No Interest Loan Scheme, offers an alternative to high-cost fringe lending and provides affordable credit to people unable to access mainstream finance.

“It’s a program that enables people on low incomes to access affordable credit for the purchase of essential goods and services,” says Karen Denham, Queensland NILS state co-ordinator.

Established in 2008, the successful three-way partnership between Good Shepherd Youth & Family Services, National Australia Bank (NAB) and the Queensland Government has seen the number of NILS programs in Queensland grow from nine to 25. The resulting $3 million increase in NAB capital has led to approximately 1500 loans being written across Queensland in the last 12 months as compared to 400 loans in 2008.

“While this growth has seen some fantastic outcomes, we are really just scratching the surface in meeting some of the basic financial needs of disadvantaged Queenslanders,” Ms Denham says.

A recent report into disadvantage across Queensland released by Lifeline Community Care in May 2010, confirmed that an increasing number of people are doing it tough as “food prices have risen on average 15 per cent in the past two years, rent by 17 per cent and electricity by 32per cent”. Often when the fridge breaks down, it is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Aaron Davis, CEO of the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN), recognises the value of the positions funded by the Queensland Government, as an aid to developing ICAN’s own NILS program in remote Indigenous communities.
“Overcoming the logistical challenges of establishing NILS in remote Indigenous communities wouldn’t be possible without the guidance and support of the NILS Expansion Project,” says Mr Davis. “The supply of essential household items, including fridges, washing machines and generators can have huge impacts on people’s health. If the government is serious about closing the gap, projects like the NILS Expansion Project need to continue, so other disadvantaged communities can reap the benefits.”

Despite having a 10-year history in Queensland, until recently, access to the NILS program has largely been restricted to select Brisbane suburbs.

With the increase in programs, access is now available in ‘pockets’ across the state. With an established $15 million commitment from the National Australia Bank thus far, further opportunities exist for communities in Queensland to establish NILS programs. The missing link now is the government’s continued funding for the development of these much-needed programs.

One such program that has benefited from the support of the NILS Expansion Project provides NILS loans to low-income earners across Cairns.

“NILS has provided an essential resource to low-income earners who would otherwise find it impossible to access small loans at an affordable rate, “ says Sharon Large, service manager Shelter Housing Action Cairns. “Having generated more than $300,000 in loans with a default rate of less than 3 per cent, we know this is something that works.”

Anne, a disability pensioner who recently received a NILS Loan for a fridge, says ,“When my old fridge stopped working after a power surge, I was really worried about where I was going to keep my insulin. It needs to be refrigerated or it spoils. I was keeping it in my neighbour’s fridge for a while until somebody told me about the NILS program. It has been fantastic and you only repay what you borrow.”

The ICAN Indigenous Financial Counseling Mentorship Program provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ICAN staff to undertake accredited training in the Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counseling) as well as workplace training in client casework.

The program was developed through an existing partnership between ICAN and the Commonwealth Bank.

Aaron Davis, ICAN Chief Executive Officer says he wants ICAN staff to have access to training opportunities that will not only benefit ICAN’s service delivery but also build real career pathways for Indigenous people.

As a pilot, the mentorship program trained one ICAN staff member in 2008 to 2009.  In 2010, the program is expanding to train up to 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members in the Diploma of Community Services.

Peter Harm, Executive Manager for Indigenous Banking envisions the benefits for Indigenous people training through the program.

“When the ICAN staff completes their training, they will become a few of only a handful of accredited Indigenous financial counselors in Australia,” he said.

The partnership between the community organisation and the financial giant brings other benefits as well.

Aaron says the CBA sponsorship allows ICAN to develop and deliver culturally appropriate programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Peter says the strength of the partnership with ICAN is that a two way communication exists.

“It provides us with opportunities to continually learn what is happening both in the financial world as well as in the remote communities,” he said.

“It has lead to CBA winning the Queensland Government Reconciliation Awards in 2010”

The financial counseling mentorship program is a component of the Commonwealth Bank’s larger commitment to reconciliation under their Reconciliation Action Plan (CBA 2008).

ICAN is a free financial counseling and consumer advocacy service for Indigenous Australians.

In a partnership with Mura Kosker Sorority Inc., a local community women’s organisation, the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network Limited (ICAN) has expanded its services of financial counseling and literacy to the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) of Cape York.

Funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs’ “Commonwealth Financial Counseling Fund”, the ICAN program is the first of its kind to extend its services to the remote area.

Olive Bann, ICAN Financial Counseling Support Officer is happy to see the service come to Thursday Island.  “Our people need this kind of program here,” she said.

“Because we are so remote on T.I., we don’t have a lot of access to this kind of service.”

Aaron Davis, ICAN Chief Executive Officer thinks the partnership marks the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship for ICAN and the Mura Kosker Sorority.

“We are pleased to start delivering financial counseling support to Thursday Island,” said Aaron.

“As a consumer organisation, we will be able to start identifying consumer issues in the Torres Strait.”

“And that will enable ICAN to respond much quicker to consumer exploitation and assist people,” said the CEO.

Equally, Latoya Nakata, Manager of Mura Kosker, also sees benefits for the clients who come to the service for emergency relief from financial distress.

“Having a financial counselor in-house creates an additional component to our service,” the Manager said.

“It means our clients will receive a more holistic service when they come to Mura Kosker.”

It is ICAN’s holistic approach to service delivery that Olive Bann recognises as a necessary component to teaching Torres Strait Islander people about management of personal finances.

“We live in a world where we need to understand how to use money and to know what our legal rights are,” she said.

Olive says a balance needs to be achieved between the cultural world of Torres Strait Islanders and the complicated reality of consumerism.

“It is important for our people to learn the skills to walk in both worlds,” she said.

ICAN is a free financial counseling and consumer advocacy service for Indigenous Australians.  Mura Kosker Sorority Inc. is a community organisation established to unite women of all ages within the Torres Strait.

Torres Strait Island Map (click to enlarge)

Commencing in mid-2008, the Money Management Program (MMP) has become a well-established service in the Yarrabah and Palm Island Aboriginal communities.

The program runs financial literacy training and access to financial counseling services and provides support to households and individuals.

Jon O’Mally, ICAN Services Manager has observed how the program has changed in two years.

“The Money Management Program has expanded to meet the needs of the communities,” he said.

“We have moved beyond just providing financial literacy and counseling, into new areas of service delivery.”

The programs now include Tax-Help and the No Interest Loan Scheme.

The MMP program has serviced 800 people, with a total benefit to the community that evaluates to $3.5 million.

Jon says these results are achieved by staffing the MMP program with local people.  He says the local staff keep a close eye on unusual activities happening in the community, including dodgy door to door trading and mobile phone contracts entered into via telemarketing.

Aaron Davis, ICAN CEO says that ICAN’s consumer advocacy service delivery plays an important role in the programs.

“The program is also about educating people about their responsibilities and rights as consumers and to defend people who are being exploited by these traders,” he said.

Jon sees the impact of the programs as community understanding and responsiveness to what the ICAN service can do for them.

“The communities know how to access the service and seek help when they think something or someone is acting in a dodgy way,” he said.

The programs are funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.  The MMP began as a pilot trial under the federal ‘Welfare Reform’ policy (FaHCSIA 2010).

ICAN is a free financial counseling and consumer advocacy service for Indigenous Australians.