A Pakistani national residing in New South Wales, Australia, has been accused of illegally obtaining the personal financial details of over 100 Australians. The stolen information was reportedly used to fraudulently secure hundreds of high-end mobile services.
The man was arrested on Wednesday, November 27, following an investigation led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in collaboration with the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3).
Telecommunications companies, including Optus and TPG Telecom, also assisted in the operation. A search warrant was executed at his residence in Auburn, a suburb in western Sydney, where investigators uncovered over $1 million in cash, more than 500 SIM cards, and 21 electronic devices, including laptops and mobile phones.
Additionally, credit cards and financial documents were seized as part of the operation. Authorities allege that the suspect scammed victims by impersonating a telecommunications service representative.
Victims were reportedly contacted with offers to upgrade their mobile devices and were sent a one-time PIN for verification, which the suspect is accused of intercepting to carry out fraudulent transactions.
The investigation linked the man to more than 100 victims across Australia, highlighting the extensive reach of the cybercrime. The accused is set to appear at the Sydney Downing Centre Local Court, where further details of the case will be presented.
Get the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.