11 stories this week:
Optus data breach: who is affected, what has been taken and what should you do? – 22 September 2022
Optus customers’ private information may be compromised after a cyber-attack. It is believed the attackers were working for a criminal or state-sponsored organisation. For some customers identity document numbers such as driver’s licence or passport numbers could be in the hands of criminals.
Federal ICAC a ‘great step’ but whistleblowers still at risk without a protection agency: David McBride – 22 September 2022
It is expected the federal government will introduce its much-anticipated national anti-corruption commission bill this week, as crossbenchers demand the proposed legislation include stronger whistleblower protections.
Two arrests over business email compromise (BEC) scam – 26 September 2022
A Tasmanian victim was arranging the purchase of a house through a conveyancer. The email correspondence from the conveyancer to the victim was compromised by a third party who altered the attached account payment information. As a result, the victim unwittingly transferred over $1.2 million to the scammers.
Australian crypto exchange appoints administrators – 27 September 2022
‘Mine Digital’, a digital asset exchange and brokerage has collapsed and control handed to external administrators, amid a dispute where it is being sued for allegedly not doing enough to weed out scammers from its platform. In July, Scammers used the crypto exchange to facilitate the movement of money from investors they tricked using a sham company called 500 Investments.
https://www.afr.com/technology/australian-crypto-exchange-falls-into-administration-20220921-p5bjqj
Avoiding a surveillance society: how better rules can rein in facial recognition tech – 27 September 2022
Our laws have not kept pace with the extraordinary rise of facial recognition technology and has left our community vulnerable to harmful uses of facial recognition. To fill the legal gap, it is proposed a “model law”: an outline of legislation that governments around Australia could adopt or adapt to regulate risky uses of facial recognition while allowing safe ones.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/avoiding-surveillance-society-better-rules-200224964.html
‘Whistleblower’ letter triggered NAB probe, trial of alleged fraudster told – 27 September 2022
A sydney court as part of the Helen Rosamond trial, has recently heard that an anonymous letter exposing an alleged fraud at the NAB came as a shock to a senior bank investigator in the days before Christmas 2017.
To read full article – digital version of SMH required.
Hundred who stole $350 million from their Australian employers – 27 September 2022
New Australian research has been conducted detailing detailed over one hundred cases where employees ripped off their bosses for at least $1 million. Findings are summarised in this article.
https://www.miragenews.com/hundred-who-stole-350-million-from-their-862060/
Laws for a federal anti-corruption body have been unveiled. Here’s what you need to know – 28 September 2022
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus introduced legislation to the lower house on Wednesday to set up the National Anti-Corruption Commission. This body would operate independently of the government and have powers to investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the commonwealth public sector. Protections for whistleblowers and journalists as well as safeguards to protect reputations are also included in the proposal.
PNG minister, police hit out at Australia over extradition request for alleged fraudster and Cairns resident Samson Jubi – 28 September 2022
A Papua New Guinea government minister and top justice officials say they are “extremely frustrated” with Australia for harbouring Samson Jubi., a Cairns resident wanted for a mulit-million dollar fraud. He is wanted over the alleged misappropriation of 268 million kina, ($117 million) from impoverished communities in the country’s Western Province.
What does the Optus data breach reveal about corporate governance problems around cyber security? – 29 September 2022
The Optus data breach has exposed wider corporate governance issues in Australian companies around cyber security. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said that “What has occurred over the last week has been a wakeup call for corporate Australia and we need to be doing everything we can, to make sure that protections are in place”. Article also contains a link to the Department of Home Affairs discussion paper, that highlighted weaknesses in Australian cyber security regulations and incentives. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/optus-data-breach-exposes-corporate-governance-gaps-around-cyber/101483874
Anthony Koletti denies delaying his police report so Melissa Caddick could disappear, court hears – 29 September 2022
The husband of accused Sydney fraudster Melissa Caddick has flatly denied assisting her in disappearing, delaying a police report to buy her time and withholding information. Mr Koletti waited 30 hours after his wife disappeared to report her missing.
