Five foreigners have been charged with an alleged plot to install ATM card skimmers and create counterfeit bank cards to rob Australians of their money.
A joint police operation involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police and Queensland Police led to the arrest of the five people, who are believed to be part of an international crime syndicate targeted by the US Secret Service.
It follows the arrest of five Romanian nationals by the US Secret Service (USSS) who allegedly targeted Americans receiving Social Security benefits through electronic transfer of benefits (EBT) cards.
They allege that the accused installed ATM skimmers to clone a person’s EBT card details and PINs, then re-encrypt the cloned bank cards at the beginning of each month to visit ATMs and withdraw the newly loaded funds.
During a search, US authorities found a receipt for a shipment sent to Australia and tipped off the AFP.
Five foreigners have been charged with an alleged plot to install ATM skimmers and make fake bank cards to rob Australians of their money
A joint police operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police and Queensland Police led to the arrest of the five people, who are believed to be part of an international crime syndicate targeted by the US Secret Service
The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Center (JPC3) alleges syndicate members were operating in Australia and reportedly received a number of suspicious packages believed to contain ATM skimmers sent from the UK, China and the US.
It is alleged that one of the arrested men used multiple false identities to open bank accounts, subscribe to telecommunication services and book short-term accommodation.
On August 4, the AFP and NSW Police executed a search warrant at a short-term rental property in Rhodes, Sydney’s inner west.
They seized $12,935 in cash, multiple skimming devices, false identity documents, including passports, bank cards in the name of others, electronic devices, card readers, SIM cards, and power hand tools.
Further investigation led officers to discover that an alleged faction of the syndicate was operating in Brisbane.
Police identified an ATM syndicate that members were likely to attend, and on August 3, investigators saw 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 estate in Upper Mount Gravatt on August 4, where they arrested a 34-year-old Romanian man.
Two Romanian nationals, a man, 33, and a woman, 32, appeared before the Parramatta local court on August 5, charged with producing a document, knowing that the document was false or misleading and that the document had been produced or reportedly produced under the Anti-Money Act. Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Act, possession, manufacture or provision of false foreign travel documents and possession or control of property with intent to gain or trade personal financial information unfairly.
The two face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if found guilty and are due to appear in court on October 25.
They allege that the accused installed ATM skimmers to clone a person’s EBT card details and PINs, then re-encrypt the cloned bank cards at the beginning of each month to visit ATMs and withdraw the newly loaded funds
The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Center (JPC3) alleges syndicate members were operating in Australia and reportedly 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 before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 4 on two counts for possession of equipment for the purpose of committing/facilitating the commission of a crime and once for obtaining or deal with identification. information and hinders the police.
They face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison if found guilty and are due to appear in court on September 6.
A Romanian national, 34, 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 identification information.
He faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison if found guilty and will appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 23.
AFP detective Tim Stainton said Australia is 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 criminals who steal from hard-working Australians and bring offenders to justice.”