Police have dismantled an organised criminal syndicate and seized more than $250,000 following an investigation into identity theft, NSW Police say.
In January, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad established Strike Force Kurraka to investigate a syndicate large-scale identity theft and fraud against financial institutions.
Police will allege in court the syndicate created more than 300 fraudulent accounts through an online banking portal and used to apply for credit and loans to the value of more than $2 million.
Further, the fraudulent credit cards were used to withdraw cash, purchase furniture, clothing, motor vehicles, and jewellery, and pay for day-to-day expenses.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 46-year-old man at Wiley Park about 9.30am last Tuesday (11 September 2018).
A short time later, detectives executed two search warrants at Wiley Park and Mascot, where they seized $27,000 cash, credit cards in various names, identity documentation, financial documentation, and a Mercedes Benz, a Mitsubishi, a BMW, and various items believed to be proceeds of crime.
About 3.15pm, strike force investigators executed search warrants at a vault in Sydney for two safety deposit boxes, where they seized $256,300 cash, watches, financial documentation, and an electronic storage device containing financial documentation.
A fifth search warrant was executed at storage unit at Belfield about 3.30pm last Wednesday (12 September 2018), where investigators seized a cross trainer and 27 watches, believed to be proceeds of crime.
Another man and two women were arrested during the operation and taken to local police stations.
The 46-year-old Wiley Park man was charged with knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, possess identity info to commit indictable offence, dishonestly obtain property by deception, and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
He was refused bail and appeared at Burwood Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at Central Local Court on Thursday 8 November 2018.
The 42-year-old Wiley Park woman was charged with knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
She was refused bail and appeared at Burwood Local Court, where she was granted strict conditional bail to re-appear at Central Local Court on Thursday 8 November 2018.
The 56-year-old Mascot man was charged with knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, and possess identity info to commit etc indictable offence
He was refused bail and appeared at Central Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at the same court on Thursday 8 November 2018.
The 39-year-old Mascot woman was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
She was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 4 October 2018.
Investigations under Strike Force Kurraka are continuing.
Anyone with information in relation to identity theft and fraud is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
