Department of Home Affairs delivers awareness session after Fulani community flags cyber crime incidents

Perth’s Fulani community is falling victim to cyber crimes at a disproportionate rate, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The Department joined forces with WA Police officers from the financial crimes squad last weekend to deliver a cyber security awareness session in Cannington. The initiative came after members from the Fulani community — which is a dialect spoken across parts of Africa — raised the alarm with Home Affairs community liaison officers that cyber incidents and scams had increasingly affected the migrant group. Gortankaku Community Association — which represents Fulani speaking people in WA — president Thierno Bah said Sunday’s session was attended by about 30 people from different multicultural communities. Mr Bah said he had been contacted personally by multiple victims of cyber crime. “A community member was scammed by an unknown caller pretending to be from Microsoft,” he said. “They told her that her PC needed urgent patching against cyber attacks. Then they called and told her you must go to the supermarket and buy a gift card.” Mr Bah said the scammer urged the victim to pay in cash, which was just one example of a number of sophisticated scams affecting members. Home Affairs WA acting regional director Ally Paolino said the department regularly engages with multicultural communities regarding cyber incidents. “We’re seeing a lot more vulnerability in cyberspace and seeing that digital literacy is something that communities really need,” she said. “We have identified that culturally and linguistically diverse communities are particularly vulnerable to those sorts of scams and cyber threats.” Ms Paolino said language barriers and an increasingly digitised world played a role in the rate of scams. “When you get an email to you, and English isn’t your first language, it looks sort of official. You’re just trying to do the right thing and respond,” she said. “But also, all of our life is becoming increasingly online, and if you’re either of a certain age or a certain cultural background where being online isn’t something that you’re used to, it’s already a new environment for you to navigate.” The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported Australians lost $2.74 billion to scams in 2023. While that was a 13 per cent decrease in losses from the previous year, the ACCC warned those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities were disproportionately affected by job scams, as were those seeking part-time work. Last week, the Federal Government passed a raft of new laws under its 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Among these were requirements for certain businesses to report ransom payments and powers to enable the Minister for Cyber Security to prescribe mandatory security standards for smart devices. WA Police Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Rubidge, who is also in charge of the financial crimes squad, said cyber security involves protecting one’s personal and online identity. “Taking simple steps — like using strong passwords, being cautious of scams and seeking trusted advice — can help you stay safe and secure in an increasingly connected world,” he said. Information on keeping yourself safe online is available on the Home Affairs Act Now Stay Secure page.