Pakistani national charged in alleged telecommunications scam that netted more than $1 million

The 21-year-old alleged scammer stole the financial information of more than 100 people by posing as a representative of a telecommunications company.

A 21-year-old Pakistani national living in New South Wales will appear in Sydney Downing Center Local Court today (November 28) to face charges for his alleged role in a scam that affected more than 100 Australians.

The man was arrested on November 27 following an investigation opened in March 2023, after telecommunications service providers alerted the AFP’s Joint Police Coordination Center against Cybercrime (JPC3). on possible fraudulent activities.

The man allegedly called his victims and introduced himself as a representative of a telecommunications provider, telling them they were eligible for a device upgrade or that their mobile service was undergoing maintenance.

The alleged scammer would then send his victims a link for a one-time PIN authorization, which he would intercept and use to purchase mobile devices on the victim’s account. The fraudulently obtained devices were sent to another address, then sent abroad to be sold, says AFP.

When the devices did not show up at victims’ addresses, they contacted their phone carrier about the suspicious activity.

Following the execution of a search warrant at the man’s Auburn home, AFP investigators discovered more than $1 million in cash, more than 500 SIM cards and 21 devices ranging from computers cell phones. The devices contained financial documents and credit card details.

“The JPC3 is committed to working with our law enforcement and industry partners to disrupt criminal activity and protect Australians from cybercrime. The successful arrest in this case is possible because of these partnerships,” AFP Investigations Commander Kate Ferry said in a statement.

“Fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated in their operations. The latest information from Scamwatch recorded almost 34,000 reports of phone scams in 2024, with losses to the Australian economy during this period estimated at more than $71 million.

“The consequences of fraudulent activity also have a significant personal and health impact on victims.

“We encourage the Australian community to exercise extreme caution when receiving unexpected calls or messages from fake companies, even if they appear legitimate. If this happens, you can hang up and call the company again through a trusted source, such as the company’s website, to verify the legitimacy of the request.

Andrew Sheridan, Optus vice president for government and regulatory affairs, said the telecommunications company is dedicated to tackling fraudsters.

“Working alongside the AFP and our telecommunications colleagues during this investigation to apprehend the fraudsters has helped ensure customers’ hard-earned money stays in their pockets,” Sheridan said.

“This is a warning to other fraudsters to think twice before targeting Australian consumers.”

The man is charged with one count of dishonestly obtaining or selling personal financial information and one count of selling money or property believed to be the proceeds of a criminal act and, at the time of the transaction, the value of the money or property. the property was worth $1,000,000 or more.

If convicted of both offenses, the man faces up to 30 years in prison.

If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to the police using the report button via the Australian Cyber ​​Security Center website.