Two men have been charged over their alleged involvement in credit card skimming after a search warrant was executed in Sydney’s south-west, NSW Police say.
Strike Force Tatura was established in September 2016 by detectives from State Crime Command’s Financial Crime Squad to investigate the involvement of organised crime syndicates into card skimming and cloning across Sydney.
Police will allege in court the syndicate would use skimming machines to clone bank and credit cards, before using the cloned cards to withdraw cash from ATMs within the Sydney region.
On Friday morning (26 January 2018) police stopped a vehicle on Canterbury Road, Canterbury, and commenced a search of the vehicle and a 31-year-old man. During the search police allegedly located cash, cloned cards and a credit card skimming device.
He was arrested and taken to Campsie Police Station.
With assistance from Sydney City Local Area Command Strike Force Ambleside detectives, a search warrant was executed at a unit on Ewart Street, Marrickville, just before 7am on Friday, where cash, mobile phones, drugs and other electronic equipment were allegedly located and seized.
A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Newtown Police Station.
Acting Commander of Financial Crimes Squad, Superintendent Matthew Craft said the results of this investigation can be attributed to the ongoing relationships with financial institutions and their industry developments.
"Over the last few years financial institutions have improved the technology of ATMs and these advancements have been vital in assisting with our investigation.
"We are grateful for the willingness of these businesses to provide information to police, we simply could not have done it on our own.
"These criminals are targeting unsuspecting members of the community and we will continue to be vigilant in disrupting the activities of any organised crime groups," A/Supt Craft said.
The 31-year-old man was charged with 81 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
He was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Bail Court yesterday (Saturday 27 January 2018).
The 29-year-old man, who is an unlawful resident, was charged with conspiracy to commit offence unspecified, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, recruit others to assist in carrying out criminal activity, deal with identity information to commit indictable offence, goods in custody suspected of being stolen and possess identity information to commit etc indictable offence.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Central Local Court on Thursday 1 February 2018.
