CANBERRA, ACT, Oct. 21 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint media release between the AFP, NSWPF, NT, QPS, SAPOL, TASPOL, VICPOL and WAPOL
Editor's note: ClickFit campaign videos and radio grabs are available via Hightail.
Australians are being urged to slow their scroll and stop before they click on suspicious links, as data reveals unsafe online habits continue to give cybercriminals the upper hand.
In a national response, the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) has launched ClickFit, an awareness campaign designed to help Australians recognise the warning signs of cybercrime.
It comes as new findings show too many Australians are not adopting necessary safety measures online and too few are reporting incidents to police when targeted by cybercriminals.
Reporting rates in 2024 ranged from 8 per cent for malware to 22 per cent for fraud and scams. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology's Cybercrime in Australia 2024 report, many victims believed their experience was not serious enough to report or that nothing could be done.
Every cybercrime report - no matter how small - can help police track criminals, shut down their networks, assist in building intelligence on emerging cyber threats, and prevent other people from being targeted.
Supported by every state and territory police force, ClickFit encourages people to take a moment to stop their scroll, check for warning signs of scams and protect themselves from cybercrime.
AFP Acting Commander of Cybercrime Operations Marie Andersson said the message for digital consumers was clear - the online world was incredible, but it was important to develop cyber tools and skills to navigate it confidently and safely.
"Research shows our online habits directly impact our risk profile and many Australians overlook simple steps to stay secure online, which can prevent their victimisation," Acting Commander Andersson said.
"Just like drivers learn to spot hazards on the road, we want online users to learn to recognise the warning signs of cybercrime.
"After all, the more we drive, the better we get at navigating blind spots and reacting safely to avoid an accident. Online safety works the same way. The more aware we are of checking our digital blind spots - suspicious text messages, shady email attachments or fake investment ads - the better we are at steering clear of cyber threats."
The JPC3 brings together Australian law enforcement and key industry and international partners to fight cybercrime and prevent harm and financial loss to the Australian community.
In a recent case investigated by Tasmania Police, a man lost more than $400,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam - despite advice from his bank and police. Acting Commander Andersson said this demonstrated just how convincing and persistent scammers could be.
In another case, a mother reported to South Australia Police that she booked a family holiday for four through an online advertisement that appeared reputable, even checking the business had an ABN. However, after paying thousands of dollars for flights and accommodation, she arrived at her destination only to discover the hotel did not exist.
Despite Australians rating their tech knowledge highly, many are yet to use basic protections such as strong passphrases, multi-factor authentication and regular software updates (AIC Cybercrime in Australia 2024 Report) - a critical gap ClickFit aims to close.
Acting Commander Andersson said criminals often exploited unsafe online habits to commit cybercrime, but simple changes could help Australians break the cycle.
"Changing our online habits is just as important as locking your car door after getting out," Acting Commander Andersson said.
"ClickFit isn't about making people feel fearful or anxious about being online, it's about empowering them to take small, simple steps to dramatically reduce their risk of being impacted by cybercrime.
"By building safe habits into our everyday digital routine, such as using strong and unique passphrases, setting up multi-factor authentication and keeping software up to date, we can make it harder for cybercriminals to succeed and easier for people to navigate safely online."
ClickFit will run across 12 months and focus on four key types of cybercrime: business email compromise, romance scams, investments scams and impersonation scams.
It is built around two heroes - NetCop Gary and Agent Index - whose mission is to help Australians become ClickFit.
Running until December 2026, ClickFit will highlight key threats including romance scams, investment scams, impersonation scams and business email compromise scams.
Visit the Are you ClickFit page for factsheets, digital resources, and take the interactive 'Are You Fit to Click?' quiz.
What Makes You ClickFit?
ClickFit offers six simple steps everyone can introduce to their digital routines to help protect them from cybercrime and keep them safe online:
* Create strong passphrases - Long, unique passphrases for every account.* Enable Multi-Factor Authentication - Adds an extra lock even if your password is stolen.* Install software updates - Keeps your devices and apps secure.* Be alert to scams - Stay up to date with emerging threats.* Stop and think before you click - Don't rush as cybercriminals rely on urgency and distraction.* Verify the source - Check directly with the legitimate organisation/trusted source before clicking a link, calling a number, or paying an account
If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to police using ReportCyber.
If there is an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call 000.
Being a victim of cybercrime can have devastating impacts. If you, or someone you know needs help, we encourage you to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyondblue on 1300 224 636, who provide 24/7 support services.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
