PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF-branded footage of the arrests will be available via hightail later today.
Financial Crime Squad detectives have charged two men following an investigation into an elaborate card skimming scheme worth $3.75 million.
Strike Force Gwynellen was established by State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad in March 2023 to investigate a transnational organised crime network hailing from Romania, believed to be involved in alleged card skimming throughout Sydney.
Following extensive inquiries, about 4.45pm yesterday (Wednesday 27 September 2023), strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – executed a search warrant in Wolli Creek where they arrested two men, aged 40 and 43.
During the search, detectives located an active skimming device, allegedly in the process of imbedding nearly 1500 blank credit cards, which have the potential to hold approximately $3,712,500 worth of funds skimmed from ATMs.
Police also located a number of electronic devices allegedly containing a list of thousands of bank details with accompanying pin codes – believed to belong to legitimate banking customers.
A short time later, police executed an additional search warrant at second address in Wolli Creek, where detectives located $50,000 cash, electronics, passports, designer handbags, designer shoes, and designer watches.
All the items were seized for further forensic examination.
The men were taken to St George Police Station, where the younger man was charged with nine offences, including knowingly direct activities of criminal group, deal with identity info to commit etc indictable offence, three counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and three counts of make, possess etc equipment etc to make false document.
The older man was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, deal with identity into to commit etc indictable offence, and three counts of make, possess etc equipment etc to make false document.
The men were refused bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court today (Thursday 28 September 2023).
Police will allege the men were part of an Organised Crime Network hailing from Romania, who travelled to Australia for the purpose of cloning local debit cards so they could withdraw funds from innocent people’s bank accounts.
Financial Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, credited the success of Strike Force Gwynellen to effective collaboration with other agencies.
“It’s our job at the Financial Crime Squad to make sure anyone who thinks they can help themselves to other people’s hard-earned cash is dealt with accordingly,” Det Supt Arbinja said.
“We will continue to work alongside our counterparts at the AFP, United States Secret Service, and various international authorities, to ensure fraudsters know they aren’t welcome in Australia.”
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
