Published Friday, 23 November, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
QLD POLICE WORLD LEADERS IN ONLINE CONSUMER PROTECTION: SPENCE
Police services from around the nation have commended the work of the Queensland Police Service in combating online auction fraud.
Police Minister Judy Spence outlined for the Ministerial Council of Police Ministers, the world first eBay initiative developed in partnership with eBay and the Queensland Police Service this year.
"Queensland Police are leading the way developing greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the investigation of online fraud," Ms Spence said.
"Websites like eBay provide a convenient option for consumers, but protection from fraudsters is essential.
"In the past, if a consumer had a complaint when an item the purchased one a site like eBay didn't arrive, or was not what was listed, they often made their complaint straight to police.
"In many cases police found that if the consumer had contacted their online auction site or the seller directly instead, their complaint could easily have been handled without police involvement.
"To improve the efficiency of the complaints process, Queensland police have formed a partnership with eBay to establish a website which provides consumers an avenue to report online fraud.
"Since the new system went live in May this year, 117 matters have been reported, using this new process, and police have taken action in 87 of those cases.
“In one case investigated by Queensland police, 30 charges were laid against one offender.
"This co-operative approach by Queensland police to manage these complaints is an example of how Queensland police are setting the standard for other jurisdictions to follow."
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said the Queensland Government’s support of the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, led by Detective Inspector Brian Hay, has allowed the service to attack this issue head on.
“Queensland Police are recognised as the only jurisdiction worldwide that is addressing this area of crime, with Detective Inspector Hay and his team leading the field with their online initiatives,” Commissioner Atkinson said.
“By providing a simple and structured dispute resolution system, we are accelerating the reporting and investigating process – limiting the opportunity for serial fraudsters to commit further offences and defraud other innocent people of significant sums of money."
Ms Spence urged other jurisdictions to promote the use of the new system in their states, and to provide enhanced avenues for reporting online fraud.
"The Queensland Police Service is now acting as the coordinating authority in Australia for complaints about online marketplace transactions," Ms Spence said.
"We want all states to work with the Queensland Police Service, to ensure all complaints about online fraud are thoroughly and efficiently investigated, while other disputes can be appropriately managed through the auction sites.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3239 6172
Police Minister Judy Spence outlined for the Ministerial Council of Police Ministers, the world first eBay initiative developed in partnership with eBay and the Queensland Police Service this year.
"Queensland Police are leading the way developing greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the investigation of online fraud," Ms Spence said.
"Websites like eBay provide a convenient option for consumers, but protection from fraudsters is essential.
"In the past, if a consumer had a complaint when an item the purchased one a site like eBay didn't arrive, or was not what was listed, they often made their complaint straight to police.
"In many cases police found that if the consumer had contacted their online auction site or the seller directly instead, their complaint could easily have been handled without police involvement.
"To improve the efficiency of the complaints process, Queensland police have formed a partnership with eBay to establish a website which provides consumers an avenue to report online fraud.
"Since the new system went live in May this year, 117 matters have been reported, using this new process, and police have taken action in 87 of those cases.
“In one case investigated by Queensland police, 30 charges were laid against one offender.
"This co-operative approach by Queensland police to manage these complaints is an example of how Queensland police are setting the standard for other jurisdictions to follow."
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said the Queensland Government’s support of the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, led by Detective Inspector Brian Hay, has allowed the service to attack this issue head on.
“Queensland Police are recognised as the only jurisdiction worldwide that is addressing this area of crime, with Detective Inspector Hay and his team leading the field with their online initiatives,” Commissioner Atkinson said.
“By providing a simple and structured dispute resolution system, we are accelerating the reporting and investigating process – limiting the opportunity for serial fraudsters to commit further offences and defraud other innocent people of significant sums of money."
Ms Spence urged other jurisdictions to promote the use of the new system in their states, and to provide enhanced avenues for reporting online fraud.
"The Queensland Police Service is now acting as the coordinating authority in Australia for complaints about online marketplace transactions," Ms Spence said.
"We want all states to work with the Queensland Police Service, to ensure all complaints about online fraud are thoroughly and efficiently investigated, while other disputes can be appropriately managed through the auction sites.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3239 6172