Optus data breach

Experts say while 'there's no need to panic', there are steps you can take to ensure you're not exposed to scams or identity theft.

And then of course, the link is fraudulent and might request extra personal information,” Murray says. [NSW](https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/driver-and-rider-licences/proof-of-identity/changing-your-licence-or-customer-number) it seems possible, Murray says, if the security of your licence has been compromised, but you need to “report the incident to police and obtain a police event number or a ReportCyber Receipt (CIRS) number.” [Moneysmart](https://moneysmart.gov.au/banking/identity-theft), [ID Care ](https://www.idcare.org/)and the [Office of the Australian Information Commissioner](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/data-breaches/respond-to-a-data-breach-notification). He says you can also apply for a credit ban, which will stop anyone setting up an account for 21 days, and that after those 21 days it can carry over if you supply extra evidence in the form of a police report or a cyber report incident number. “Criminals go for the low hanging fruit – whoever is easier to compromise, they will – and unfortunately, that can be elderly people in the community or those that aren’t tech literate,” Klein says. “As a scammer, I might decide, if I’ve got all the mobile numbers of all these Optus customers whose data has been exposed, I might send them all a fake text message pretending to be Optus, including a link to find out more about what data has been exposed or steps that you could take. [VicRoads](https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/formsandpublications/licences/information-sheet-change-of-licence-number-due-to-identified-fraud.ashx) tells drivers: “If you’ve been notified by an organisation that a data breach may have exposed your licence details, but no fraud has taken place, VicRoads will NOT be able to change a driver licence number.” [released advice](https://www.passports.gov.au/optus-data-breach) in response to the Optus breach saying passports will still be safe to use for travel but that the decision to get a new document to avoid identity fraud is a personal one. “There is still a risk with exposing those numbers because, depending on the context, different organisations will ask you just for your driver’s licence number or just for your passport number,” Murray says. Klein says “just because someone knows your driver’s licence number is not a reason to rush out and change your driver’s licence”. He says without other details such as expiry dates or the address on the card, there is a limit to what anyone can do with the information. Optus has indicated that it’s the numbers on ID documents such as passports and driver’s licences that have been compromised, rather than the copies of the photo IDs themselves.