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SBS Australia
9 hours ago
- SBS Australia
The new scam that could target anyone scrolling social media
Australians will soon need to prove their age to access social media — and cybersecurity experts are warning the confusion about how it will work could open the door to a new wave of scams. As the federal government prepares to roll out the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, concerns are emerging over how scammers might exploit public confusion about the changes. The ban, set to come into effect in December 2025, will require social media companies to take "reasonable steps" to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. That includes verifying all users' ages — but not through government-issued ID. Still, many Australians mistakenly believe they'll need to submit sensitive documents — like their driver's licence or passport — to continue to scroll on Instagram or TikTok. And according to experts, that misconception could give scammers a dangerous new opportunity. What's actually required? The new legislation explicitly bans platforms from requiring government-issued identification, including a digital ID, for age assurance. Instead, companies will need to implement alternative verification methods, though exactly what that looks like remains unclear. Despite this, many Australians are under the impression they'll be asked for their ID. On Reddit, one user warned the policy "will confuse people and make more vulnerable boomers that get scammed asking for ID". "The status quo now is never to provide ID. Once the government says you must, the door is wide open," they wrote. That confusion could make people more susceptible to scams disguised as legitimate ID verification requests. A new type of scam Experts say scammers are quick to jump on policy grey areas — especially when public awareness is patchy and technical details are vague. Professor Toby Murray from the University of Melbourne's School of Computing and Information Systems said it's "not impossible" scammers will try to impersonate social media companies and trick users into uploading personal documents. "Mass text message scams where people are getting texts purporting to be from Facebook saying, 'You've got to click this link and verify your age before you're able to log into your Facebook account again' … It's not impossible that we might start to see that kind of stuff emerging," he told SBS News. David Lacey, CEO of IDCARE, a not-for-profit support service for identity theft victims, agreed, saying scammers were likely to exploit the uncertainty by impersonating social media platforms like Meta — a tactic they already use. "The most likely response will be scammers impersonating Meta, which already happens," Lacey told SBS News. "We haven't seen this specific nuance just yet, but expect it will happen." Mohiuddin Ahmed, senior lecturer in computing and security at Edith Cowan University, agreed the changes are likely to "instigate scammers to devise new ways to gather personal information and use them for fraudulent activities". He said these scams could involve: Fake websites requiring users to upload ID; Phishing messages with links asking for ID to "continue using" an app; Attempts to remotely access a victim's device or install spyware. "The possibilities are limitless, as the requirement to submit ID is also broadening the threat landscape," Ahmed told SBS News. Exploiting public confusion A key risk isn't the legislation itself — it's the public misunderstanding of it. And right now, there's little clarity on what age verification will actually look like in practice. Each platform will be responsible for creating and implementing its own solution, which may vary widely. That uncertainty creates what Murray called an "information vacuum" — ideal conditions for scammers to operate in. "Australian consumers, we're not used to having to hand over our ID documents to online websites to access them. There's certainly been a lot of confusion around what kinds of age assurance mechanisms are actually going to be used," Murray said. "When different platforms might be using different technologies, that only creates additional uncertainty and confusion for people," Murray said. "Most scams take advantage of the fact that the person who is being scammed doesn't understand what's going on as well as the scammer does." He said the rollout of two-factor authentication brought similar risks — new technology can help with security, but also introduces new vulnerabilities. "As age assurance technologies are going to start to become more widely rolled out, people are going to have to learn what risks they present and how to use them securely," he said. But until clearer public guidance is issued — and until platforms publish details of their chosen systems — scammers may continue to exploit the gap. "We don't know how it's going to look, so because of that, it has created a potential risk," Murray said. "It remains to be seen how dangerous that risk is going to be in practice." What happens when someone steals my identity? If scammers get hold of sensitive documents like a driver's licence or passport, the consequences can be long-lasting. They may use these to: Apply for credit cards or loans; Open bank accounts; Register vehicles or apply for government services; Conduct illegal activity in someone else's name. "It's the kinds of things that enable them to get money — and then for you to be the one who's maybe liable for that," Murray said. Ahmed said stolen identities can also severely impact a victim's credit score. "If the scammers use the stolen ID to apply for multiple credit cards or other loans, then the victim will have a tough time rebuilding their credit score," he said. According to the latest figures on personal fraud from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2023-24: 14 per cent of Australians aged 15 and over experienced personal fraud; 1.2 per cent — around 255,100 people — were victims of identity theft. Of these, 25 per cent said scammers used their details to access money from a bank, superannuation or investment. And 12 per cent reported new accounts (like phone or utilities) being opened in their name. Murray said older Australians remain the most at-risk group. Ironically, the age group most affected by the new social media ban — younger people who often don't yet possess an ID — may also be the safest from scams. SBS News has contacted the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts for comment.
Sky News AU
12 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Jewish community ‘alone' and ‘scared' amid surge in anti-Israel demonstrations
Jewish advocate Marnie Perlstein reacts to the outpouring in support for the Jewish community amid the antisemitism crisis in Australia. NSW Police have launched a series of investigations into the Sydney Harbour Bridge protesters over death chants, waving terrorist flags, and displaying Hamas and Nazi symbols. 'I'm not going to lie that our community has felt so alone and really scared,' Ms Perlstein told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'To hear messages like that and to know that they came in their hundreds is really incredible and gives me some faith that Australians really do understand that this is not just an issue about the Jewish community but it's really an issue about Australian values and the erosion of Australian values.'
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Perth Now
AFP lays spying charges, China denies claims
China does not interfere with other countries, a state-controlled newspaper has claimed, after a woman was alleged to have been sent by Beijing to spy on a Canberra Buddhist group. The alleged agent, a permanent resident of Australia, is accused of covertly collecting information about an association banned in China, the Australian Federal Police said. The AFP alleges the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by China's Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said overnight his government was 'not familiar with the specifics' of the case. 'Let me say more that as a principle, China develops relations with other countries, including Australia, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of others,' he said, as cited by the state-controlled Global Times. 'China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs, and, meanwhile, firmly opposes any disruption to the normal people-to-people interactions, exchanges, and co-operation between China and relevant countries under the pretext of foreign interference. 'China will follow this case closely and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals.' The Global Times is a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP has a history of exerting its influence in Australia to keep the Chinese diaspora in line. Analysts have long warned of the party's efforts to undermine key industries and suppress free speech on university campuses, with Chinese students dobbing in fellow students who voice views that rub Beijing up the wrong way. The Albanese government, which has sought to gloss over touchy topics with China in the pursuit of better economic ties, has responded cautiously to news of the suspected agent in Canberra. Though, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has vowed the Albanese government 'will safeguard our democracy'. 'Our democracy is about who we are,' Senator Wong told the ABC on Tuesday. 'And that means we will stand together against any foreign interference. 'We have strong frameworks in place. 'We will not tolerate collectively, or as a government, Australians being harassed or surveilled. We will continue to safeguard the democracy.' On relations with Beijing, she said 'dialogue matters'. 'Dialogue is important. Dialogue enables us to manage difference, but it doesn't eliminate it,' Senator Wong said.
