Australian fraud climbs to record high

Nearly $3 billion was stolen by fraudsters in 2014-15 as the number of Australians cheated each year climbed to a record high.

A credit card

A record 1.6 million people in Australia are thought to have fallen foul of fraud in just a year. (AAP)

A record 1.6 million people in Australia are thought to have fallen foul of fraud in just a year.

About $3 billion was swindled in the 2014-15 financial year, with card fraud the most commonly reported crime, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Card fraud doubled since 2011 and affected 1.1 million people.

The data also showed that the likelihood of being a victim of fraud increases with income.

People earning a weekly wage of $2,000 are three times more likely to be defrauded than those earning under $500.

The number of people exposed to potential scams climbed to more than half the Australian population, but fewer were suckered in.

FRAUD IN AUSTRALIA IN 2014-15

* Fraud cost Australians $84.8 million after reimbursement

* 56 per cent of Australians were exposed to a scam, but only four per cent responded

* More than half changed their behaviour after fraud

* Card fraud climbed to $2.1 billion

* Most at risk of card fraud were those aged 35-44

* More than half of card fraud victims found out on their own, with banks informing 42 per cent and credit card companies telling four per cent


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Source: AAP


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