Business owner charged by ISST over alleged role in identity fraud syndicate
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Police Force
A Lakemba business owner is the seventh person charged as part of an ongoing joint-agency investigation into alleged identity crime offences.
The Identity Security Strike Team (ISST), a multi-jurisdictional initiative between the NSW Police Force(NSWPF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), investigates high level, complex identity fraud and related security matters under both Commonwealth and State legislation.
In June 2017, the ISST commenced Operation Loa to investigate targeted mail theft, mobile telephone porting, and identity takeovers enabling large-scale fraud across Sydney.
ISST officers executed seven search warrants across the Sydney metropolitan area last Wednesday (29 November 2017), and charged three men and three women over their alleged roles in the syndicate. They remain before the court.
About 10.45pm on Saturday (2 December 2017), a 31-year-old man was arrested by ISST officers on arrival into Sydney International Airport.
He was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with two counts of fraud, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
Police will allege in court the man assisted in the facilitation of large transactions with fraudulently-obtained credit cards through the use of the EFTPOS terminal within his store. Once the transactions cleared, the funds were divided between syndicate members.
The Lakemba man was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 11 January 2018.
Investigations under Operation Loa are continuing and further charges are expected.
The ISST urge anyone with information about identity fraud to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
Media contacts:
NSW Police Force: (02) 8835 8339
Australian Federal Police: (02) 6131 6333
