Is the darknet to blame for Aussies falling victim to identity theft?

MORE than 772,000 Australians have fallen victim to identity theft in the past 12 months, and these darknet websites may be to blame.

THE emergence of darknet websites operating as e-commerce markets for illegal goods has seen an increase in identity theft worldwide.

Along with drugs and firearms, darknet websites are starting to boom with counterfeit documents to further enable fraud.

According a survey by credit bureau Veda, more than 772,000 Australian’s identified with identity theft in the past 12 months alone.

Head of Cybercrime Fiona Long said the alarming statistics demonstrate the growing concern of identity theft for government departments, businesses and individuals.

“The reality is that we are all at risk of having our personal details stolen and the threat is amplified in the online world, where we can be duped by hackers without even knowing it,” she told news.com.au.

“We are all doing more and sharing more online and if we leave ourselves vulnerable, identity thieves can steal information like passwords, personal data and financial details without our knowledge.”

Ms Long said criminals use a number of different tactics to steal personal information for the purpose of committing identity theft.

“Hoax emails are the most popular method, but criminals are also known to use malware and spyware, skim credit/debit cards or steal mail, wallets and discarded rubbish,” she said.

“Traditionally, criminals would use this information to run up debts in your name, but the emergence illegal markets means more criminals are selling your personal information to turn a profit.”

While Silk Road has been shut down, there are a number of other sites emerging.

A 2014 report from the Attorney-General’s Department shows the price of fraudulent identity credentials ranges from around $80 for Medicare cards, $350 for driver’s licences and up to $30,000 for a legitimately issued passport with fraudulent details.

The same report showed personal fraud including credit card fraud, identity theft and scams cost Australians approximately $1.6 billion each year.

Ms Long said those concerned about identity theft can take a number of steps to ensure their information remains secure.

“Always use secure sites when transferring money, never open any attachments from unreliable sources and be careful where you provide card details, driver’s licence, passport and email address information,” she said.

“Keep your antivirus and operating system up to date and get into the habit of changing your passwords regularly.

“Be careful what you share on social media because it is the new criminal hotspot where hackers can easily access your information.”

If you still have concerns about the safety of your personal information, Ms Long suggests using Identity Watch — Australia’s only stand-alone cyber-monitoring service.

“Identity Watch monitors forums and websites across the globe and notifies users when their personal information is being shared,” she said.

“It is common for people to alarm their house, so why not alarm your identity?”