Five foreign nationals have been indicted over an alleged plot to install ATM card readers and create fake bank cards to swindle Australians out of their money.
A joint police operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), New South Wales Police and Queensland Police led to the arrest of the five people, who are allegedly part of an international crime syndicate targeted by the Secret Service. from United States.
It follows the United States Secret Service (USSS) arresting five Romanian citizens who were allegedly targeting Americans receiving social benefits through electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards.
They allege that the defendants installed ATM skimmers to clone a person’s EBT card details and PINs, then, at the beginning of each month, re-encrypted the cloned bank cards to visit the ATMs and withdraw the funds. just loaded.
During a search, US authorities found a receipt for a shipment sent to Australia and alerted AFP.
Five foreign nationals have been indicted over an alleged plot to install ATM card readers and create fake bank cards to swindle Australians out of their money.
A joint police operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the New South Wales Police and the Queensland Police led to the arrest of the five people, who are allegedly part of an international crime syndicate targeted by the Secret Service of USA
The AFP-run Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Center (JPC3) alleges syndicate members were operating in Australia and had allegedly received a number of suspicious packages believed to contain ATM skimmers sent from the UK, China and the US
One of the arrested men is alleged to have used multiple false identities to open bank accounts, sign up for telecommunications services and book short-term accommodation.
On 4 August, AFP and NSW Police executed a search warrant at a short-term rental property in Rhodes, Sydney’s inner west.
$12,935 in cash, multiple skimming devices, fake IDs including passports, bank cards in other people’s names, electronic devices, card readers, SIM cards, and handheld power tools were seized.
Subsequent investigations led officers to discover that an alleged faction of the union was operating in Brisbane.
Police identified members of an ATM syndicate who were likely to attend, and on August 3, investigators observed a 37-year-old man and a 21-year-old man approach the ATM, where they were arrested.
Police executed a search warrant at an Upper Mount Gravatt property on August 4, where they arrested a 34-year-old Romanian man.
Two Romanian citizens, a 33-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, appeared before the Parramatta Local Court on August 5 accused of producing a document, knowing that the document was false or misleading and that the document was produced or allegedly produced under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Act, possession, fabrication or supply of false foreign travel documents and possession or control of things with the intent to obtain or trade personal financial information dishonestly.
The two face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, if convicted, and will appear in court on October 25.
They allege that the defendants installed ATM skimmers to clone a person’s EBT card details and PINs, then, at the beginning of each month, re-encrypted the cloned bank cards to visit the ATMs and withdraw the funds. just loaded.
The AFP-run Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Center (JPC3) alleges syndicate members were operating in Australia and had allegedly received a number of suspicious packages believed to contain ATM skimmers sent from the UK, China and the US
A Romanian national, 37, and a Polish national, 21, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 4 August charged with two counts of possession of equipment for the purpose of committing/facilitating the commission of an offence. and one charge each for obtaining or handling identification. information and obstruct the police.
They face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, if convicted, and will appear in court on September 6.
A 34-year-old Romanian citizen has been charged with two counts of possession of equipment for the purpose of committing/facilitating the commission of a crime and obtaining or handling identifying information.
He faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, if convicted, and will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 23.
AFP Detective Superintendent Tim Stainton said Australia was a “lucrative target” for cybercriminals in the digital age.
“We know that personal data has become incredibly valuable to criminals,” he said.
“The AFP and our law enforcement partners will charge the criminals who rob Australian workers and take them to court.”
