MELBOURNE, July 2 - An elaborate fraud syndicate allegedly masterminded by a Sydney man has been brought down, after millions of dollars were spent using more than 1,200 fake credit cards, the Australian Associated Press reported.
Personal information was stolen from card holders in Malaysia, Spain, Britain and Australia, then allegedly used by the syndicate to manufacture fake credit cards, Aussie Medicare health cards and driver's licences in Australia. Armed with the fake cards and a shopping list, a team of shoppers purchased goods, many of which were sent overseas, predominantly to South East Asia, police said.
Following a series of raids across Sydney and Melbourne, five men and a woman faced court today in connection with the syndicate.
Tony Hancock, 53, from Strathfield in Sydney's west, is facing 20 charges over the alleged syndicate including dishonestly obtaining and dealing in personal financial information, conspiracy to cheat and defraud, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. Identity information allegedly gathered by Hancock was given to Foong Kha Weng, 35, from Potts Point in Sydney, who used specialised equipment to produce fake credit cards and Medicare cards which were returned to Hancock, police said in documents tendered to the court.
The cards were then distributed to "shoppers", some of whom were arrested at the Sydney suburb of Chatswood on May 26, police said.
"It will be alleged that the `shoppers' were then directed as to what was to be purchased with the cards and received a percentage of the value of the items purchased with the fraudulent credit cards," police said in statement issued before the court appearance.
Foong faces 12 charges including dishonestly obtaining and dealing in personal financial information, conspiracy to cheat and defraud, and participating in a criminal group.
Facing the same court today in connection with the alleged syndicate were Quoc Du Hua, 45; Yung Feng Yun, 26, and Henley Han, 53. All five men were refused bail, their matters adjourned until September 9.
In Melbourne, a 28-year-old woman allegedly linked to the syndicate appeared in court where police successfully applied for her extradition to Sydney.
A seventh man, aged 35, will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 10.
During a press conference on Thursday, investigators said many of the goods sent overseas had been recovered, along with some of the funds netted by the alleged syndicate. Goods allegedly bought by it included electronic equipment, alcohol, perfume, mobile phone cards, and cigarettes. - Bernama
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