---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Patricia Morgan <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Jan 21, 2017 at 1:21 PM Subject: FW: FraudStop: Turn the tables on the Turnbull Government To: Michel Bauwens <[email protected]> Hi Michel, Greetings from a sunny day here in Sydney. I thought you might like to read about this initiative – this group Getup have devised this free software to help people who are under attack from the government here in Australia. All the best, Patricia *From:* Mark – GetUp! [mailto:[email protected]] *Sent:* Saturday, January 21, 2017 2:56 PM *To:* Patricia Morgan *Subject:* FraudStop: Turn the tables on the Turnbull Government Patricia, Each week, 20,000 more people are getting crushed by the Turnbull Government's automated debt system.1 And it's about to expand rapidly to pensioners and people with disabilities.2 *So we're creating FraudStop – a free automated tool to fight back against the Turnbull Government's automated attack on everyday people.* Every aspect of the new Centrelink review process is designed to frustrate people until they give up and pay debts they don't owe. It's a demoralising attack by a callous government. But they didn't count on *FraudStop*, which lets people lodge an appeal in * just five minutes*, instead of waiting hours on the phone with no result. We're urgently working to launch *FraudStop* nationwide next week -- but we need the funding to prepare for thousands of users, pay the processing costs on their behalf, and advertise it to the hundreds of thousands of people who need it. *Can you chip in $10, or whatever you can, to help the turn the tables on the Turnbull Government's debt-threat fraud?* <https://getup.org.au/debt-letter-fightback?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email> FraudStop thwarts the corrupted Centrelink review process by launching a multi-pronged response through a single five-minute form. - *Appeal By Post.* People are running out of call minutes trying to get through to understaffed Centrelink offices.3 You can't formally appeal in person or online, so FraudStop submits an appeal by post, free of charge. - *FOI Request.* Shockingly, Centrelink staff are directed not to consider evidence already on file, like pay slips and doctor's certificates. 4 So FraudStop submits an FOI request for a person's file, to get the evidence Centrelink already has, instead of desperately searching for paperwork from five years ago. - *Help from local MP.* FraudStop submits a request for help to a person's local MP, which is often the best way to get things resolved quickly. Even in the testing phase, we're already hearing about local MPs responding to help. *We need your help to run FraudStop as a free community service.* The technology requires continued maintenance – and there are processing costs for every appeal. Most critically, we need a large ad campaign to get it in front of the people who need it. *Can you chip in $10 to launch FraudStop nationwide next week, before the Turnbull Government attacks tens of thousands of pensioners and people with disabilities?* <https://getup.org.au/debt-letter-fightback?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email> Already more than 250 people have used FraudStop to challenge their debt threats – just in its initial testing phase. And we've learned it's providing desperate people with some hope. *Angela, a GetUp member posting on Facebook, shared this story:* ***Trigger warning: Includes mention of suicide*** *"My friend who was suicidal over a debt threat was beyond pleased when I showed her the GetUp page. She felt relieved that now she had options and could do something about it. I honestly think you saved her life … and I say that without exaggeration."* There are thousands more people in the same situation. *Let's make sure they have a way to fight back, and let them know they're not alone.* *Chip in $10, or whatever you can, to fund FraudStop and give hope to people suffering under the Turnbull Government's fraudulent debt threats.* <https://getup.org.au/debt-letter-fightback?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email> Thanks for helping people who truly need it, Mark, Ruby, Daney and Django, for the GetUp team PS – *FraudStop is just one part of our fight back against the Turnbull Government's automated debt threats.* Right now we're seeking initial advice on legal challenges to stop the whole system, as well as a class action to recover the false debts. And we're going to pile on the political pressure by taking on Social Services Minister Christian Porter in his electorate of Pearce, where polling (funded by GetUp members!) shows he's already down 5 points thanks to the Centrelink fraud fiasco.5 *Chip in $10 now to make sure we end the Turnbull Government's fraudulent debt system once and for all.* <https://getup.org.au/debt-letter-fightback?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email> PPS – If you've received a debt letter and want to submit an appeal, you can use our beta version of *FraudStop* at fraudstop.com.au <https://fraudstop.com.au?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email> right now. If you or someone you know needs help, or to talk to someone, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. *References: [1] Fears Centrelink online glitch may send welfare recipients to debt collectors, The Guardian, 19 December 2016 [2] Centrelink's controversial data matching program to target pensioners and disabled, Labor calls for suspension, ABC News, 17 January 2017 [3] Talking Point: When the truth is a too-bitter pill, The Mercury, 21 January 2017 [4] Centrelink staff told not to fix mistakes in debt notices – whistleblower, The Guardian, 19 January 2017 [5] Robo-debt poll blow to Porter, The West Australian, 19 January 2017 * ------------------------------ GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! <https://www.getup.org.au/donate/make-a-donation?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email> To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here <http://www.getup.org.au/unsubscribe?t=3qkYgWf07A&utm_content=16565&utm_campaign=FraudStop__Turn_the_tables_on_the_Turnbull_Government_&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email>. *Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders - past, present and future - and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia and the GetUp community. * Authorised by Paul Oosting, Level 14, 338 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/