The AFP has charged two Romanian nationals for their alleged roles in a deceptive $800,000 card skimming scheme that involved tampering with ATMs across Sydney and the Illawarra region.
The men, aged 48 and 41, are scheduled to appear before Hornsby Local Court today (23 May, 2025) both charged with:
- One count of dealing in money worth $100,000 or more believed to be proceeds of crime, contrary to 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing or controlling a thing with intent to dishonestly obtain or deal in personal financial information, contrary to section 480.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment for the proceeds of crime offence and three years' imprisonment for the other charge.
The AFP began an investigation in April, 2025, after multiple banks supplied intelligence about Sydney ATMs being tampered with.
Police will allege the two men inserted thin metal devices, known as skimmers, into the card slots of ATMs in suburbs including Chatswood, Darlinghurst and Burwood.
It will also be alleged they inserted skimmers into ATMs in the Illawarra suburbs of Warilla, Shellharbour, Fairy Meadow, Warrawong and Berkeley.
Skimmers capture the financial data stored on the magnetic strips of bank cards when they are used in ATMs. This data can then be accessed when the skimmer is retrieved.
Using this process, the men allegedly cloned bank cards with the stolen data and defrauded victims of a total of more than $800,000.
It is also alleged the men obscured pinhole cameras on ATM machines to avoid detection.
The AFP executed a search warrant at the men's home in Chatswood and a storage facility in Homebush on 22 May, 2025. The pair was arrested shortly afterwards, and a third man was questioned and released pending further enquiries.
Items seized from the premises included multiple electronic devices and false passports.
The AFP also seized a large quantity of skimmers and cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
One skimmer has been retrieved from an ATM and is currently subject to fingerprinting analysis.
The 48-year-old was also charged with importing a thing with intent to dishonestly obtain or deal in personal financial information, contrary to section 480.6 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The 41-year-old was also charged with:
- One count of possessing a false foreign travel document, contrary to section 22 of the Foreign Passports (Law Enforcement and Security) Act 2005 (Cth); and
- One count of submitting false or misleading information to a reporting entity, contrary to section 136 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said criminals employed various tactics to dupe victims and their only motivation was to fill their own pockets.
"These brazen schemes hurt hardworking Australians who are already feeling the financial pinch," Det Supt Andersson said.
"If you notice unauthorised transactions in your bank accounts, please notify your bank and block the account.
"A message to potential criminals - your actions can always be traced, and the AFP will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute you.
"This result would not have been possible without the assistance of NSW Police Force, the United States Secret Service and financial institutions."
If you believe you have fallen victim to cybercrime, you should immediately report to police using ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au.
If you are concerned your identity has been compromised, contact the national identity and cyber support service IDCARE at www.idcare.org.
