The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have partnered with all State and Territory police forces across the country, plus the Australian Cyber Security Centre, to supercharge the protection of 10,000 customers whose identification credentials were leaked in the Optus data breach.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Cyber Command, Justine Gough said customers affected by the breach would receive multi-jurisdictional and multi-layered protection from identity crime and financial fraud through the program Operation Guardian.
“Under the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), which is a joint partnership between law enforcement, the private sector and industry to combat the growing threat of cybercrime, Operation Guardian will focus on key measures to help shield affected customers,” AC Gough said.
She said the measures would include identifying the 10,000 individuals now at risk of identity fraud and alerting industry; monitoring online forums, the internet and dark web; detecting criminal activity associated with the breach; analysing trends from ReportCyber to determine if there were links between individuals who had been exploited; and disrupting cyber criminals.
AC Gough said that while a post on an online forum advertising the stolen data for sale had been removed, other criminals may have access to some or all of the data.
She said Australian law enforcement agencies were working together and with industry partners, to actively monitor any subsequent misuse of the data.
“Australian law enforcement are aware of current criminal activity attempting to target and exploit impacted Optus customers that have been the subject of this data breach,” AC Gough said.
“Operation Guardian should send a clear warning to cybercriminals,” she said.
“The AFP, State and Territory police plus other agencies through the JPC3 have a laser-like focus, plus a significant number of resources and legislative powers, to identify cybercrime targets.”
AC Gough said Optus was cooperating fully with the AFP investigation and the company’s early engagement and disclosure was helping the investigation.
She asked members of the public, especially Optus customers, to be extra cautious of unsolicited contact about the data breach.
“There are reports that sophisticated scammers are contacting Optus customers via phone, email and text to get further personal information from the victims of the breach,” AC Gough said.
