Introduction Robert Palmer Learning to live
This webpage is a work in progress last edited on 24 May 2024
Absent Justice is most fortunate to connect again with Robert Palmer, who has somehow spent a large proportion of his life in pursuit of “a fair go” - not particularly for himself, but in the support of others.
This first insights came to the surface when, as a senior high school student, Robert was present at a speech given by a senior Australian Government Minister. The Minister stated that the Australian Community should not expect much intelligence to be shown by Australian Aboriginals because they had “different shaped heads”.
At question time Robert asked where this “different shaped heads” position had come from. The visiting Minister said he would discuss this with Robert in the Principal’s office when the presentation finished.
Robert, with several teachers and staff, waited outside the Principal’s office for nearly an hour - but the Minister was a “no show”.
Robert was set to become an accountant, but he - and his future wife - decided to pursue teaching careers instead.
Soon after graduating “Rob’s Segments” of 12 minutes on country television was appearing every week.
Many of “Rob’s Segments” were pre-recorded, but on one occasion it went to air live - and was two minutes short. The compere, Fred Fargher, asked Robert what parents should do to get a “fair go” for their children at school. Rob’s “off the cuff” reply generated more than two-thousand letters - this was in the days before email. Robert remembers that some of the letters described experiences so unfair that it was hard to keep the tears out of his eyes, but he answered every one!
These letter provided Robert with added incentive to seek a fair go for all.
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Article 2 - 2/06/2024 By Robert Palmer
HAVE YOU BEEN PHISHED BY A CYBERCRIMINAL?
Niki Burnside posted on the ABC last month that five Australians were among the thirty-seven individuals arrested in relation to a global phishing scam that targeted
tens of thousands of internet users. Among the victims were 94,000 Australians. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the scam involved a minimum of 10,000
global cybercriminals who tricked their victims into providing personal information, such as online banking logins, credit card details and passwords.
The cybercriminals had conducted persistent phishing attacks using a cybercrime platform.
Phishing is a technique used by cybercriminals to convince their victims to provide personal information in order to commit criminal offences or steal money. This was
often done by sending texts and emails to victims containing links to fraudulent websites impersonating well-known organisations. The international operation involved 200 officers from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the AFP. The AFP believes the cybercriminals impersonating more than 170 fraudulent
websites, such as reputable banks, government entities and other major organisations, to trick unsuspecting victims into believing they were the legitimate websites.
When victims followed the link, cybercriminals could obtain a range of sensitive information, such as one-time pins, usernames and passwords, security questions and pass phrases. Cybercriminals then used their victims' personal information to access legitimate enterprises, such as financial institutions, where they could steal funds from victims' bank accounts. One phishing platform is believed to have originated in Canada to initially target North America.It then expanded to include the United Kingdom and Ireland before going global. As part of the deal offered, cybercriminals would sign up to a website at the cost of $270 per month and would in return be given "phishing kits”. These kits included the infrastructure to host phishing websites, email and text content generation and campaign overview services, enabling them to effectively exploit their victims.
The AFP further believed that Australian criminals were among its three top user countries. The one platform that was investigated had the potential to cause $28 million in
harm to the Australians through the sale of stolen Australian credentials while, in addition to financial losses, the victims of phishing attacks were subject to ongoing
security risks and criminal offending, including identity takeovers, extortion and blackmail. In 2023 Scamwatch received 108,000 reports of phishing attacks, estimated to total more than $26 million. To report an attack victims can contact Scamwatch, their local police, or visit cyber.gov.au. Additional Reading:
https://afp.gov.au/crimes/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/
global-sting/103738840
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/
australian-federal-police-to-
https://www.afp.gov.au/news-
offenders-arrested-cybercrime-
https://www.abc.net.au/news/
global-sting/103738840
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/
australian-federal-police-to-
https://www.afp.gov.au/news-
offenders-arrested-cybercrime-
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Article 1 - 24/05/2024 By Robert Palmer
THE PERILS OF IDENTITY THEFT
From financial devastation to emotional pain, the dangers of identity theft are considerable. According to the Federal Trade Commission approximately 4.3 million
Americans were victims of fraud and identity theft in the first 9 months of 2023 - with losses exceeding $6 billion. A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics report
revealed 1.8 million people experienced card fraud in 2022-23, a further 514,300 people experienced some kind of scam, and approximately 200,000 people were
victims of identity theft.
Financial losses aren’t the only serious danger of identity theft. When criminals gain access to your personally identifiable information - full name, Social Security
number, birthday, etc. - they can cause serious damage to your career, reputation, credit history, and may even leave you fighting against a criminal record. Phishing -
where scammers send fake emails, texts, calls, or social media messages pretending to be someone that they are not - is one of the most common ways that identity
theft happens.
- Fraudsters may be able to open new accounts, credit cards, and loans in your name
- Hackers can take over your email and other electronically-recorded accounts
- You could spend large amounts of time and money recovering your identity
- Your personal data could circulate on for almost forever and you could start receiving many more spam calls and emails
- Your children or elderly parents could have their identities stolen
When someone steals cash out of your hand, it is a one-time loss - but when criminals steal your identity, it can take weeks, months, or even years to fully recover.
Even after you think that you have recovered, statistics indicate that there is a 26% chance you will become a repeat victim of identity theft and fraud and become one of the 6% who lose more than $10,000 throughout multiple attacks. When we think of the dangers of identity theft, the first thing that usually comes to mind is financial fraud.
Once a criminal has access to your personally identifiable information or credit card
numbers, they can often ...
- create duplicate credit cards using your credit card numbers.
- use your bank account numbers to make withdrawals.
- open fraudulent loans or lines of credit under your name.
- apply for credit at other companies or banks using your information.
- empty out your bank account.
Luckily, most credit card companies and banks will not blame you for the money that an identity thief spends in your name - if you report the fraud quickly, and actively
work to shut down the scammer. Doing that still does not stop a thief from draining your savings, racking up debt, or damaging your credit score.
With your personally identifiable information, criminals can commit medical identity theft and so use up your healthcare benefits, receive treatments under your name,
or illegally acquire prescription drugs. They may even alter or misrepresent your medical history - causing many other issues. Identity thieves are very much aware that your inbox is the key that unlocks many of your other online accounts. If your passwords are weak hackers can use cyber attacks that will defeat passwords in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Once they do this scammers can request password reset emails and take over your other accounts. They are able to use your email address to send spam messages and malicious links to people in your network. Or, they might even search for sensitive information and photos which they can use to pile extra pressure on you.
When a criminal steals your personally identifiable information they may be able to file for taxes under your name. Scammers will report bogus income and claim
fraudulent benefits to get a massive refund. Then, when you go to file your taxes, your legitimate return gets flagged as fraudulent. In 2021, the American Internal
Revenue Service identified $2.2 billion in tax fraud.
When hackers gain access to your email or online accounts, they often use them to run other scams. Social media identity theft is especially common. Scammers could search for sensitive photos and videos in your account and use them to extort you. This type of identity theft can be emotionally devastating, so always protect your
social media accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Criminals may steal your identity by
- using a change-of-address scam to reroute sensitive mail to their address.
- sending phishing emails, texts, and calls to trick you into giving up your information.
- hacking your email inbox or intercepting your data on an unsecure Wi-Fi network.
- convincing you to click on a link or download an attachment that installs malware.
- using social engineering attacks like romance scams or baiting.
- shoulder surfing your credentials or logins while you’re in public.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America - an identity is stolen every two seconds. Identity theft happens, but the faster you become aware of the warning
signs of identity theft, the faster you can shut down criminals and prevent fraud. If you have been, or have become, the victim of identity theft:
- Call your bank and credit card company. Alert them of the fraud so they can close accounts and freeze fraudulent transactions.
- Contact any company at which you know identity theft and fraud have occurred. Ask to talk to their fraud department and explain the situation.
- Contact your local law enforcement and file a police report. This can be a requirement for fixing criminal identity theft and other effects of identity theft.
- Secure your online accounts. Update your passwords. Replace any lost or stolen IDs. Get a replacement driver’s license, passport, and Social Security card. Store your new documents in a secure location.
A recent report estimates that it takes at least six months and 80 hours of dedicated work to recover from identity theft.
To be continued:
