"Pleased to meet you...won't you guess my name?" Reducing identity fraud in the Australian Tax System

Abstract

Identity fraud is primarily a tool used to facilitate some other criminal act. Stealing another persons identity (i.e., identity theft) does not even have to enter into the picture. As the September 11th terrorists proved, identity theft was not necessary in the commission of one of the most heinous acts in history. ... It is clear from both the U.S. and Australian experience at least, that identity fraud poses serious challenges and policy choices that generally center on issues of cost and control. While seemingly separate concerns, I will argue from a white-collar crime perspective, that they are inexorably intertwined and dependent upon each other. Finally I will offer some overarching concepts that bear directly on prevention strategies and means of control currently underway here in Australia, and elsewhere.