Government Warns of Scammers Taking Advantage of Global IT Outage

July 21, 2024 TruthUSA

Scammers are taking advantage of a global IT outage to engage in phishing scams, prompting Australians to exercise heightened caution when sharing personal information online.

Australians are advised to exercise extreme caution when sharing information online in light of a recent IT outage, as scammers are leveraging the situation to carry out phishing scams.

A global IT outage on July 19 affected an estimated 8.5 million devices and disrupted various companies and services, including banks, airports, supermarkets, and hospitals.

The cyber security firm CrowdStrike issued a reboot to address the disruption caused by its software update, but the incident has given rise to additional problems.

“Scammers are attempting to exploit the outages resulting from the CrowdStrike technical incident,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil mentioned in an X post.

The Australian government urges businesses and the community to remain vigilant against scams and to avoid interacting with suspicious websites, emails, texts, and phone calls.

Ms. O’Neil reported phishing attempts related to the incident and advised Australians to follow the protective guidelines provided by ScamWatch.

A checkout terminal hit by IT issues is seen at a Coles store in Canberra, July 19, 2024. Australian banks and media companies have been hit by a major IT outage. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Avoiding Getting Scammed

The first step recommended by ScamWatch is to avoid giving money or information to anyone you are unsure about.

Ms. O’Neil suggested that if an email or text message seems suspicious or mentions anything about CrowdStrike or IT outages, individuals should refrain from providing any personal details.

“If someone contacts you claiming to assist with a system reboot, it’s advisable to hang up the phone,” she emphasized.

Ms. O’Neil encouraged Australians to critically evaluate any messages they receive.

“If you are not a CrowdStrike customer, you do not need to reboot your systems,” she added.

Assistant Energy Minister Jenny McAllister cautioned on Sky News that people should exercise utmost caution when sharing online information in the aftermath of the outage.

“Before providing any information to anyone, think carefully and consider whether it makes sense. If in doubt, stop,” stated Ms. McAllister.

What to Do If You Get Scammed

If you fall victim to a scam or notice unusual activity, it is crucial to act promptly by contacting your bank and seeking assistance from IDCARE, Australia and New Zealand’s identity and cyber support service.

After safeguarding yourself, individuals who have encountered scams can protect others by reporting the incidents to ScamWatch and ReportCyber online. This allows the government to raise awareness among the public.

“If you have been targeted by a scam, chances are others may be affected as well,” noted Ms. O’Neil.

People should also be vigilant against follow-up scams, as scammers often attempt to scam previously successful targets again for additional money.

According to Scamwatch, one-third of scam victims have encountered multiple scams. In case of financial issues arising from a scam, it is advisable to seek help from a financial counsellor or reach out to support services like Beyond Blue.

Updates on the Outage

Ms. McAllister mentioned ongoing collaboration between the government and affected sectors to restore functionality post-outage and address any residual issues promptly.

“Following these incidents, the focus for the government is to restore services,” she emphasized.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor raised concerns about the dependence on a few firms overseeing numerous internet systems, reiterating the need for improved preparedness from businesses and the government in handling such situations.

Business Losses

Amidst the global IT outage, Australian Chamber of Commerce CEO Andrew McKellar cautioned that affected businesses may not receive compensation for productivity losses.

“Several businesses might struggle to secure direct compensation, highlighting the need for evaluation in addressing this issue,” McKellar remarked.

Although most companies affected were operational by Saturday, many small businesses faced challenges in restoring systems by Monday.

“For numerous businesses, this incident will serve as a learning experience with consequent productivity impacts, especially due to the timing on a Friday afternoon,” McKellar highlighted.

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