National fraud database may be linked to RTA records - News - Security

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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National fraud database may be linked to RTA records

By Andrew Colley, 0
July 08, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/National-fraud-database-may-be-linked-to-RTA-records/0,130061744,120266516,00.htm

Baycorp Advantage claims to be close to linking its national fraud verification database system to the Roads and Traffic Authority's (RTA) driver's license records.

The company claims that a few small privacy issues need to be ironed out of a submission it has made to the RTA's National Exchange Vehicle and Driver Information Service (NEVDIS) project before the link goes ahead.

A spokesperson for the RTA said that the success of Baycorp's submission would depend on how much information it wants and what it wants it for.

Baycorp wants to link its commercial fraud prevention database, FraudCheck, to NEVDIS to cross-reference license numbers against identification produced consumers applying for credit and telecommnuication services.

Baycorp said the widening of access to high quality computer imaging equipment such as digital cameras, scanning equipment and printers, is driving an increase in identity fraud.

According to Baycorp Advantage, the increased quality of forged documents presented by criminals is forcing credit reference agencies to find new ways to verify information.

Jane Wilson, spokesperson for Baycorp Advantage, said the technology gives criminals the ability to reproduce birth, death and marriage certificates, driver's licenses and bank statements.

Currently, Baycorp Advantage's fraud verification database, FraudCheck, is linked to the electronic Whitepages, the electoral role and what the company refers to as de-personalised shared fraud database.

The de-personalised fraud database helps banks and other companies detect suspicious applications by searching for information linked to previous instances of fraud.

"You wouldn't see [an applicants name] on the database, you would see the address or an employer's name or something that has been previously been used in a fraudulent application," explained Wilson.

Applications containing details that have appeared in previous fraud cases would prompt the bank to investigate the applicant's information more closely.

Baycorp says its database, which it claims is used by all of Australia's major financial institutions and key telecom providers, has saved companies more than AU$70 million in potential fraud losses in the last 2 years.