Financial Crimes Squad detectives have charged a former bank employee following investigations into an alleged $590,000 fraud committed against a financial institution more than two years ago.
In May last year, detectives from the State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad's established Strike Force Kerribee to investigate a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in defrauding a financial institution.
Inquiries revealed unauthorised bank transactions valued at nearly $600,000 had been made from various accounts between February 2015 and October 2018.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 28-year-old man and 26-year-old woman last Wednesday (9 December 2020).
The pair were charged over their alleged roles in fraudulent bank transactions valued at nearly $350,000 and remain before the courts.
As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 29-year-old Prestons woman at a business at Pitt Street, Sydney, just after midday yesterday (Wednesday 16 December 2020).
Officers subsequently executed a search warrant at a business at Liverpool where computers and documents including identification in various names and loan applications were seized.
The woman, who is a former bank employee, was taken to Day Street Police Station and charged 15 offences including;
- deal with identity info to commit etc indictable offence (x8);
- dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception (x4);
- possess identity info to commit etc indictable offence (x2);
- knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal
She was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Thursday 17 December 2020).
Financial Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, said investigators have successfully dismantled the activities of this alleged criminal syndicate.
"It will be alleged in court that this woman used her employment to facilitate unauthorised fraudulent bank transactions valued at nearly $600,000 over a two-year period," Det Supt Howlett said.
"This includes nearly $350,000 allegedly siphoned from an elderly individuals' retirement and personal accounts – essentially stealing all of their savings.
"Criminal offences of this nature are not only financially debilitating, but also emotionally distressing for victims, and anyone involved in stealing the hard-earned wages and savings of others is disgraceful.
"The methods used to obtain the funds involved a high degree of planning. They were complex, of a large monetary value and designed in a way to concealed and abuse the trust of her employer and customers.
"Investigations of this nature are extremely complex and involve working in close collaboration with financial institutions to uncover the full extent of the alleged crimes committed.
"Anyone who believes their identity has been compromised online is urged to contact their financial institution and police," Det Supt Howlett said.
Victims of identity theft can contact IDCARE for assistance to reduce the harm experienced from the compromise and misuse of identity information: https://www.idcare.org.
Investigations under Strike Force Kerribee are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Kerribee investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
