News

As Australia’s reliance on technology grows, and online shopping remains an increasingly attractive option for busy Australians, the cost and incidence of cybercrime is expected to increase.

The ACORN is a national policing initiative that allows cybercrime victims to easily and instantly report cases of criminal activity online, as well as providing information on how to avoid falling victim to cyber criminals.

Many instances of cybercrime go unreported because victims either do not know where to report, don’t think it’s worth reporting, or are reluctant to do so.

The leading types of cybercrime being reported to the ACORN are online fraud and scams, with 19,232 reports received, accounting for 49 per cent of the total reports received in 2015.

Online trading issues which affect Australians who buy and sell goods online were the second highest type of cybercrime reported; the ACORN received 8,368 reports which accounts for 22 per cent of total reports in 2015.

Victoria received the highest number of cybercrime reports, closely followed by Queensland and New South Wales.

The majority of reported victims of cybercrime were between 20 and 40 years of age (40%), followed by the 40-60 age group (38%). 

Over the past year, email, social networking, and website advertising have been the top three reported online channels used by cybercriminals to target their victims. 

The Government launched the ACORN in November 2014 as an easy way for the public to report cybercrime and contribute to a national intelligence database which authorities can use to identify and shut down criminals.  

Minister for Justice, the Hon Michael Keenan MP encourages all members of the public to be vigilant online and to work together to ensure a safer and more secure digital environment for all Australians by reporting to the ACORN.

The ACORN can be accessed online at www.acorn.gov.au.