Pakistani national charged in $1m Australian telco scam case

A Pakistani national living in New South Wales, Australia has been charged for allegedly acquiring the personal financial details of more than 100 Australians illegally, which he then used to deceptively gain hundreds of high-end mobile services.

He was arrested on Wednesday (November 27) following an AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) investigation. It involved Australian law enforcement, and telecommunications providers Optus and TPG Telecom.

In the western Sydney suburb of Auburn yesterday, AFP investigators executed a search warrant at the man’s home. More than $1 million in cash, over 500 SIM cards, 21 electronic devices including laptops, mobile phones, which contained credit cards and financial documentation were allegedly found by the investigators.

When the man will appear in the Sydney Downing Centre Local Court, it will be alleged that dozens of Australian victims of the scam reported being contacted by a caller, purporting to be a telecommunications service representative.

Moreover, it will also be alleged that the offender advised the victims they could upgrade their mobile device and were then sent a one-time PIN for authorisation, which was allegedly intercepted by the offender.

The investigators were able to link the man to the illegal activity, which identified more than 100 victims in Australia.