The Australian Federal Police recently announced a new investigation will focus on 10,000 customers who had at least 100 points of ID exposed online in wake of the Optus data breach.
Nearly ten million Australian’s have been compromised by last week’s Optus data breach, in which 100 points of identification were stolen prompting Australian Federal Police launching Operation Guardian to safeguard those affected.
On Friday, AFP Assistant commissioner Justine Gough said a new investigation would focus on 10,000 victims of the attack.
According to Ms Gough state and territory police and the AFP have established ‘Operation Guardian’ to enhance the safety of more than 10,000 customers whose notification passwords have been publicly posted after the Optus data leak.
“Monitoring online forums, the internet, and the dark web for criminals attempting to exploit the personal information released online is part of the investigation.”
“This is going to be a long and complex investigation and it involves large data sources and multiple inquiries,”
“We understand the offender employed tactics to conceal their identity, their actions, and their whereabouts, but we are pursuing a variety of avenues to determine the truth, and those investigations will take a long time.” says Ms Gough
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to make an official statement and refused to say whether Optus would pay for the investigation. However, confirmed that the company would pay for new passports.
“Optus have responded to my request that I made both in the parliament and that Senator Wong made in writing to Optus [confirming] they will cover the costs of replacing affected customers’ passports,” says the PM.
Law enforcement, private sector, and industry collaboration on JPC3, the AFP-led coalition to fight cybercrime, will work on safeguarding affected clients by focusing on these key measures:
- Identifying the 10,000 individuals across Australia now at risk of identity fraud and alerting industry to enable further protection for those members of the public,
- Monitoring online forums, the internet and the dark web for other criminals trying to exploit the personal information released online
- Analyse trends from ReportCyber to determine whether there are links between individuals who have been exploited, and
- Engaging with the financial service industry to detect criminal activity associated with the data breach
- To identify and disrupt cyber criminals.
National Police Statements.
- Queensland
Queensland Police Service Financial Crime and Cybercrime Group Detective Acting Superintendent Mike Newman says the release of this data is a timely reminder to individuals looking to profit that the QPS Cybercrime Squad will work with other squads from across Australia to locate and prosecute cybercrime offenders.
- Victoria
Victoria Police Crime Command Cybercrime Division Detective Superintendent Jane says successfully responding to and preventing these crimes would only happen if law enforcement and our partners worked together.
- NSW
NSW Police State Command Cybercrime Detective Superintendent Matt Craft says Police in New South Wales are working to ensure that we protect those who may be affected by the breach and urges all residents to be extra cautious about their online security.
- Western Australia
Western Australia Police Force Financial Crimes Division Detective Superintendent Robert Anderson says the WA Police Force Cybercrime Investigation and Financial Crimes squad will work with other police jurisdictions across Australia to apprehend cybercrime offenders and assist those who have been victimized.
- South Australia
South Australia Police Financial and Cybercrime Investigation Branch Detective Chief Inspector Darren Fielke says Victims in South Australia were told to change their driver’s license numbers by attending a Service SA Centre. The $20 fee for the new license will be waived.
- Tasmania
Tasmania Police Crime and Intelligence Command Detective Sergeant Paul Turner says the police are working with the Australian Federal Police and other police forces around the country to track down the perpetrators and ensure that local people are safeguarded from future harm.
Optus confirmed that 36,900 Australians had their Medicare numbers stolen in the data breach – 15,000 of those numbers were still valid and Members of the public.
Sophisticated scammers are now contacting Optus customers via phone, email and text to get further personal information from the victims of the breach. Customers, have been asked to remain vigilant and cautious about unsolicited contact about the data breach.
David Lacey, of IDCARE, a cyber support non-profit organisation, says his organisation is helping those who believed they were being victimised as a result of the Optus leak.
Meanwhile, Optus has agreed to repay the cost of replacement passports for those affected by the massive data breach.
