Advance Fee Fraud Reporting Portal Report Presentation (January 2013 – June 2014) Compiled by Griffith University Student Lucy Farrell using AFF Portal Referrals

Overview The Queensland Police Service (QPS) Advance Fee Reporting Portal is available to all members of the public across Australia. The portal allows alleged victims of AFF to make complaints requesting their matter be forwarded to an overseas law enforcement agency. These complaints refer to crimes committed online where the victim is in Australia, and the offender is in an overseas jurisdiction. Complaints are entered online. Once received these complaints are reviewed by the QPS Fraud and Cyber Crime Group (FCCG), assessed, and processed for referral through Interpol to the relevant overseas law enforcement agency. Data for the following report was collected from online AFF portal complaints made by members of the public. Data was obtained from 314 online complaints made in 2013, and 190 online complaints from January to June 2014, 504 complaints in total. Total financial loss reported was $3,846,

Location of Victim

Victim Suburb Classification Rural/RemoteUrban Number of Reports89415 Reported Total Financial Loss$776,695.31$3,112, Total financial loss for reports that listed a suburb location classified as rural or remote ranged from $9.95 to $127, The average reported total financial loss for rural or remote suburbs was $11, Total financial loss for reports that listed a suburb location classified as urban ranged from $8.99 to $300, The average reported total financial loss for urban suburbs was $9,

Location of Victim Fraud Type and Financial Loss The top three financial losses for rural or remote suburbs were $80,000.00, $120, and $127, All three identified relationship fraud as fraud type. The greatest reported fraud type was sale of goods at 47.2%, and second greatest was relationship fraud at 14.6%. The top four financial losses for urban suburbs were $300,000.00, $150,000.00, $150, and $150, Fraud types identified were sale of goods, relationship fraud, identify theft, and investment scam respectively.

Education of Victim January 2013 – June 2014 AFF Portal Complainant Educational Qualification Number of Complainants Education

Education of Victim Financial Loss and Fraud Type – Secondary Education or Higher 49.8% of the 468 complaints made by those who specified qualifications of secondary education or higher, stated fraud type as sale of goods. The second greatest reported fraud type for the secondary education or higher victims was relationship fraud. 11.3% of reports specified relationship fraud as fraud type. Total financial loss for those who reported educational qualifications of secondary education or higher ranged from $8.99 to $300,000.00, with an average loss of $9, Total combined financial loss for the 468 alleged victims was $3,349,

Education of Victim Financial Loss and Fraud Type – Lower than Secondary Education For the 36 victims that stated educational qualifications lower than secondary education level, 36.1% reported sale of goods as fraud type. Total financial loss for those who reported educational qualification lower than secondary education ranged from $75.76 to $150,000.00, with an average loss of $19, Total combined financial loss for the 36 victims was $497, NOTE: these reports are made and written by the complainant. Often total financial loss is under-exaggerated in order to combat feelings of embarrassment or to avoid judgment.

Occupation of Victim Victims ranged in occupation and employment status. 10.1% of the 504 alleged victims identified themselves as a student. 8.7% reported that they were retired. 6.9% stated unemployed as their occupation, 5.5% identified as self-employed and 26 reports did not specify. Fraud Type Of the 51 reports compiled by students, 64.7% identified sale of goods as fraud type. Accommodation scams, relationship fraud and money laundering were three other areas identified. Of the 44 reports where retired was given as employment status, 22.7% reported sale of goods as fraud type, and 18.2% reported relationship fraud. Other areas of victimisation included lottery win scam, and phone scams, and identity theft. Of the 35 reports where unemployment was stated as occupation, 31.4% identified sale of goods as fraud type. 11.4% identified relationship fraud as fraud type. Other common areas included money laundering, Microsoft scams, and loan scams.

Occupation of Victim Financial Loss Total amount of financial loss reported by the 51 self-identified students ranged from $8.99 to $124,798.90, with an average of $ The highest reported loss was the result of sale of goods fraud, where the victim purchased goods from the website EBay and never received them. Total amount of financial loss identified in the 44 reports made by retirees ranged from $10.00 to $73,795.00, with an average of $ The greatest amount of loss, $73, was the result of a lottery win scam. Fraud types in the higher total loss category differed significantly. Total amount of financial loss identified by the 35 unemployed reports ranged from $19.55 to $44,480.00, with an average loss of $ The greatest amount of financial loss, $44, was the result of money laundering on the false premise of an employment opportunity which was advertised online.

How Contact was First Made

Financial Loss and Fraud Type the most common fraud type identified was sale of goods at 47.9%. Financial loss ranged from $36.98 to $29,250.00, with an average loss of $12, Website: the most common fraud type identified was sale of goods at 52.4%, with relationship fraud second on 21.9%. Financial loss ranged from $35.99 to $150,000.00, with an average loss of $11, Phone call: the most common fraud type identified was computer related scam (Microsoft, Telstra) at 67.6%. Financial loss ranged from $10.00 to $150,000.00, with an average loss of $8, Ebay: all reports identified sale of goods as fraud type. Financial loss ranged from $8.99 to $27,600.67, with an average loss of $1, Facebook: the most common fraud type identified was relationship fraud at 63.2%. Financial loss ranged from $ to $38,000.00, with an average loss of $10,

Countries Money Sent To Countries Funds Transferred to - Hot Spot Map Less than 5 reports of money transferred to Country reports of money transferred reports of money transferred reports of money transferred

Countries Money Sent To Amount of Funds Transferred to Country - Hot Spot Map $0 - $5, transferred to Country $5, $30, transferred to Country $30, $100, transferred to Country $100, $660, transferred to Country

Method of Transfer Overall, of complaints made between January 2013 and June 2014 that reported financial loss, 48% reported Western Union as the method of transfer. Total financial loss reported was $3,846, Direct online transfers total financial loss was $411, % of total reported financial loss. Western Union total financial loss was $904, % of total reported financial loss. Telegraphic Transfer total financial loss was $1,314, % of total reported financial loss. In 2013, when using Western Union as method of transfer financial loss ranged from $10.00 to $75, Average loss when using Western Union as method of transfer was $5, In 2014, when using Western Union as method of transfer financial loss ranged from $ to $67, Average loss when using Western Union as method of transfer was $4,

Summary Data was obtained from 314 online complaints made in 2013, and 190 online complaints from January to June 2014, 504 complaints in total. Total financial loss reported was $3,846, In 2014, 72% of complaints were made by QLD residents. Majority of referrals were made by those living in urban areas. Rural or remote areas had a large proportion of financial loss attributed to relationship fraud. 92.9% of referrals were made by members of the public with education levels of secondary education or higher. Occupations of reported victims varied significantly. The greatest reported initial method of contact was at 29%. The greatest financial loss was attributed to inital contact methods of and website.

Summary Malaysia, China and Ghana had the three greatest reported total amounts of funds transferred. 31 reports identified Malaysia, 91 reports identified China, and 9 reports identified Ghana. Nigeria had 9 reports and all stated Western Union as method of transfer. The Philippines had 16 reports and all stated Western Union as method of transfer. Overall, of complaints made between January 2013 and June 2014 that reported financial loss, 48% reported Western Union as the method of transfer. Direct online transfers total financial loss was $411, % of total reported financial loss. Western Union total financial loss was $904, % of total reported financial loss. Telegraphic Transfer total financial loss was $1,314, % of total reported financial loss.