The federal government will provide a $15 million funding boost to help victims of identity theft, as new figures reveal half a million Australians are being scammed every year.
7NEWS can reveal the vital funding package will ensure ID-CARE, a non-profit organisation helping identity crime victims, continues operating for the next three years.
For Deb Jennings, losing her identity happened in seconds after she clicked on a fake MyGov text message in July 2024.
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“Unfortunately I clicked on it and I must have given them a little bit more information. It was probably my driving licence as well as my phone number that allowed them to pinch my ID,” Jennings said.
She only became aware of the scam three months later when a Centrelink worker called, believing she wanted her pension paid into a new Westpac account.
“It was quite frightening actually because I thought I’ve done nothing wrong except click on this darn link. It caused me weeks and weeks of frustration,” she said.
The hackers had applied for seven bank accounts in her name before she discovered ID-CARE through a Google search.
“They were incredibly helpful,” Ms Jennings said.
The non-profit helps 100,000 victims a year — individuals, small and big businesses — repairing credit histories, rebuilding reputations and recovering identities.
The $15 million funding package ensures victims of identity crime won’t be left to navigate the recovery process alone.
Jennings considers herself one of the lucky ones who got help before the hackers hit her wallet.
“I was very lucky there, I got away with that one,” she said.
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