Links

Australian Federal and State authorities responsible for consumer protection issues. 

Little Black Book of Scams provides an essential guide to scams, swindles, rorts and rips offs. An Australian Government publication produced with assistance from fair trading and consumer protection agencies across Australia
www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/scams.asp

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is the Federal authority responsible for ensuring individuals and businesses comply with the Commonwealth competition, fair trading and consumer protection laws.
www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/142

Australian Securities and Investments Commission is the Federal authority which regulates and enforces company and financial services law.
www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf

Fido – Australian Securities and Investments Commission website on scams, financial tips and safety checks for consumers.
www.asic.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, radio communications, telecommunications and online content, including spam.
www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.2293898:HOMEPAGE:1317335808:pc=HOME,tlp=HOME

The Australian High Tech Crime Centre provides a national coordinated approach to combating serious, complex and multi-jurisdictional high tech crimes, including identity fraud. It is hosted by the Australian Federal Police and is supported by Australian State, Territory and Federal police services.
www.ahtcc.gov.au

Consumers Online is a consumer reference and referral centre provided by the Treasury on behalf of the Federal Government.
www.consumersonline.gov.au/welcome_message.asp

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman provides free, independent, informal and speedy resolution to complaints about your telephone or internet provider.
www.tio.com.au

ACT Office of Fair Trading
www.fairtrading.act.gov.au

New South Wales - Department of Fair Trading
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Northern Territory Consumer and Business Affairs
www.nt.gov.au/dib/caft/

Queensland - Office of Fair Trading
www.consumer.qld.gov.au

South Australia - Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
www.ocba.sa.gov.au

Tasmania
www.justice.tas.gov.au/ca/index.htm

Victoria - Consumer Affairs Victoria
www.consumer.vic.gov.au

Other Australian sites

Australian Consumers’ Association, publisher of CHOICE magazines, website and books, is a not-for-profit organisation which has been researching and campaigning on behalf of consumers since 1959.
www.choice.com.au/defaultView.aspx?id=102314&catId=100165

Australian Direct Marketing Association is the self-regulatory body for information based marketing. It operates a “Do Not Contact” register.
www.adma.com.au

Distribution Standards Board is the self-regulatory arm of the Australian Catalogue Association. It maintains a database of all known addresses that carry a restrictive sign on the letterbox, and provides free of charge a reflective No Advertising Material sticker.
www.catalogue.asn.au/distribution/

Handy overseas sites

USA Federal Trade Commission enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices.
www.ftc.gov/index.html

Econsumer.gov is an international joint effort to combat multinational Internet fraud. Its 13 partners include Federal authorities in Australia, New Zealand, UK and the USA.
/www.econsumer.gov/english/

New Zealand Ministry of Consumer Affairs
/www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/index.html