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A 30-year-old man has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for his alleged involvement in a Sydney-based organized crime group accused of stealing millions of dollars and card details from thousands of Australians to access their bank accounts.
The Australian man is scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court on seven charges due to an AFP cybercrime investigation that is yet to determine the size of the fraud.
The operation Iasion began in September 2021 to identify the individuals responsible for hundreds of thousands of automated text messages that directed users to counterfeit Australian banking and telecommunications sites.
The SMS phishing scam is believed to have started in 2018, targeting customers of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank and Telstra, among others.
In November 2021, a 39-year-old man from Sydney was arrested for his participation in the same con.
According to reports, police have discovered individuals with thousands of dollars stolen from their bank accounts, which are still under investigation.
The AFP identified that the scammer had sent the messages through a SIMBOX, operated from the man’s home in Sydney and other properties.
AFP Detective Superintendent Bradley Marden said that, according to police reports, the SIMBOX controlled by the syndicate was relocated frequently to avoid detection by law enforcement.
“A single SIMBOX can accommodate over 100 sim cards and send hundreds of thousands of text messages daily, simultaneously to Australian mobile phones,” said Det-Supt. Marden.
“We’re still trying to figure out how much money this scam has cost Australians, as our cybercrime investigators are still finding victims and putting together the puzzle of this fraud.”
“Australians receive these scam messages daily, putting a strain on them. We urge people not to click any links in a text or email appearing to come from a bank or phone company. Instead, go to the website yourself or contact customer service.”
Australians and the general public are advised to be vigilant when receiving any unexpected or unsolicited communications that request personal information or direct them to click on links or open attachments.
If you believe you have received a fraudulent text message, report it to your bank or telecommunications provider immediately. You can also forward the message to the AFP at www.reportcyber.gov.au.
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