A Pakistan national residing in New South Wales is expected to appear in the Sydney Downing Centre Local Court today (28 November, 2024) after being charged for his alleged role in illegally acquiring the personal financial details of more than 100 Australians, which he then used to fraudulently obtain hundreds of high-end mobile devices.
The man, 21, was arrested yesterday (27 November, 2024) following an AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) investigation, involving Australian law enforcement, and telecommunications providers Optus and TPG Telecom.
The investigation began in March 2023 after service providers alerted the JPC3 to the alleged fraudulent activity.
It will be alleged in court that dozens of Australian victims of the scam reported being contacted by a caller, purporting to be a telecommunications service representative.
The victims were allegedly advised their mobile service was under maintenance and/or offered discounts on a new mobile device.
The offender allegedly advised the victims they could upgrade their mobile device and were then sent a one-time PIN for authorisation, which was allegedly intercepted by the offender.
This PIN was allegedly used to enable the purchase of a mobile phone or tablet on the customer's account, often with the victim's saved payment details, before having it delivered to an alternate address. It will be alleged the mobile devices were then sent offshore for resale.
When victims did not receive their upgraded mobile device, they became suspicious and contacted their telecommunications service provider.
Investigators were able to link the man to the illegal activity, which identified more than 100 victims in Australia.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at the man's home in the western Sydney suburb of Auburn yesterday (27 November, 2024) and allegedly found more than $1 million in cash, over 500 SIM cards, twenty one electronic devices including laptops, mobile phones, which contained credit cards and financial documentation.
The man was arrested and charged with:
- One count of dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information, contrary to section 480.4 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years' imprisonment; and
- One count of dealing with money or property that was believed to be, proceeds of indictable crime and at the time of the dealing the value of the money or property was $1,000,000 or more, contrary to s400.3(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years' imprisonment.
AFP Commander Investigations Kate Ferry said the joint law enforcement and telecommunication services effort during this investigation was critical to disrupting this complex illegal activity.
"The JPC3 is committed to working with its law enforcement and industry partners to disrupt criminal activity and protect Australians from cybercrime. The successful arrest in this case is possible because of these partnerships," Commander Ferry said.
"Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in their operations. Latest information from ScamWatch* recorded almost 34,000 reports of phone scams in 2024, with losses to the Australian economy during this time estimated at more than $71 million.
"The consequence of scamming activity also has significant personal and health impact on victims.
"We encourage the Australian community to exercise a high degree of caution when receiving unexpected calls or messages from fake companies, even if they appear to be legitimate. If this occurs, you can hang up and call the company back via a trusted source, such as the company's website, to verify the legitimacy of the request."
Optus Vice President Government and Regulatory Andrew Sheridan said Optus was committed to fighting the battle against scammers trying to steal money from hardworking Australians.
"Working alongside the AFP and our telco colleagues during this investigation to apprehend scammers has ensured customers' hard-earned cash remains in their pockets.
"It is a warning to other fraudsters to think twice about targeting Australian consumers," Mr Sheridan said.
TPG Telecom Customer Security & Investigations Manager Amelia Limbrick said TPG Telecom was committed to working closely with law enforcement agencies to stamp out fraudulent activities and protect our customers.
"This joint effort with the Australian Federal Police and Optus highlights the importance of working together and sharing intelligence so we can ensure the safety and security of Australians," Amelia Limbrick said.
The JPC3 brings together Australian law enforcement and key industry and international partners to fight cybercrime and prevent harm and financial loss to the Australian community.
We are committed to equipping all Australians with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against cybercrime.
Watch our cybercrime prevention videos and protect yourself and others from being a victim of cybercrime.
If there is an immediate threat to life or risk of harm, call 000.
If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to police using the report button via the Australian Cyber Security Centre website.
If you, or someone you know needs help, we encourage you to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, who provide 24/7 support services.
* www.scamwatch.gov.au
