Canberrans who have been deemed most at risk of identity theft or fraud due to the Optus data breach will receive a new driver licence card for free.
In the ACT, every driver licence issued includes two separate number fields that, since 1 September 2022, need to be used together, and match, to verify your identity. Optus has advised the ACT Government that a small number of ACT residents have had both numbers released in the data breach, and these people are most at risk of identity theft or fraud. A replacement card is necessary for these individuals.
For the vast majority of Canberrans who have only had one of these fields released in the breach, the risk of someone using a compromised driver licence for fraudulent purposes is significantly reduced at this time. This is because the licence can no longer be used for identification purposes without both numbers.
The ACT Government says if you have been contacted by Optus and require support, you can contact the Resolution and Support Team by calling 13 22 81 and selecting option one, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.
Alternatively, you can visit the Access Canberra Replace Driver Licence page for details on how to replace your driver licence card.
Meanwhile Kate & Nige spoke to Tech Expert Trevor Long from Nine News about the Optus Data Breach.
What we know so far?
The alleged Optus hacker, who released ten thousand customer records, has since apologised and taken back his request for a ransom. However, it’s believed another hacker has already re-posted the data leaving customers vulnerable yet again.
Tech Expert Trevor Long says Optus customers should err on the side of caution, and assume their data has been breached. The data has been leaked to the dark web, or an underground forum, which can be accessed by anyone with a computer.
What’s the biggest risk if your data HAS been hacked?
- Identity fraud: where they use your details to apply for a credit card. This means you may be knocked back by the bank in the future when applying for credit.
- Scams: As the hackers have access to people’s emails, phone numbers, and personal details like date of birth and home address, customers whose information has been hacked will most likely be targeted by scammers attempting to use that information to their advantage.
“Usually with scammers, English is not their first language, so scam emails are easy to spot, normally filled with plenty of spelling mistakes and poor grammar. “
What you should do if YOU have been hacked?
Trevor advises anyone who’s data has been hacked should get onto Optus through their App and request ‘Identity Protection’. They’ve offered 12 months identity protection to people which means you’ll get alerted every time there’s suspicious activity on your account.
