July 30th, 2024Nationwide operation targets SIM box fraud
Policing agencies across Australia recently joined forces in a National Day of Action coordinated by the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), to disrupt cyber criminals allegedly using SIM boxes to scam hundreds of Australians.
SIM boxes are allegedly used by criminals to commit large-scale SMS phishing attacks known as ‘smishing’.
Smishing is a malicious attack that uses deceptive text messages to deceive victims into downloading malware or sharing personal information.
Police in recent days have arrested five alleged offenders including three people in NSW and two people to proceed by summons in Victoria.
The alleged offenders are suspected of using SIM boxes to send fraudulent SMS phishing communications to access and obtain personal information from unsuspecting Australians via their banking or government-affiliated online accounts.
The investigation was initiated by NSW Police Force (NSWPF) in March, 2024, and utilised the JPC3 to coordinate state and territory police in the targeting, disruption and seizure of SIM boxes nationwide.
Members from the AFP, NSWPF, Western Australia Police Force, Tasmania Police, Queensland Police Service, and Victoria Police, worked together to execute six search warrants across a number of suburbs in New South Wales and Victoria on Thursday 18 July.
During the searches in Victoria, police located and seized three 16 slot SIM boxes, nine mobile phones, three laptops, stolen identity documents, and in excess of 500 used SIM cards from a Melbourne address.
Police also located SIM box parts, $25,000 in gift cards, two luxury watches, and a gel blaster at a Doncaster premises.
During the searches in New South Wales, Cybercrime Squad detectives seized 26 SIM boxes, thousands of mobile SIM cards, over 500 mobile phones and gift cards, $166,000 in cash and two luxury vehicles valued at $330,000.
The following individuals were arrested and charged as a result of the National Day of Action:
A Sydney man, 23, was arrested in Sydney’s CBD and taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with the Commonwealth offence using equipment connected to network to commit a serious offence, as well as dishonestly obtaining/dealing in personal financial information.He was refused bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 19 July.
A Burwood man, 25, was arrested at Burwood. He was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with offendces including tampering with evidence with intent to mislead judicial tribunal and failing to comply digital evidence access order direction.He was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Friday 19 July.
A man, 25, was arrested at Wolli Creek and later charged with the Commonwealth offence of using equipment connected to network to commit a serious offence. He was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Friday 19 July.
A Melbourne woman, 32, and Doncaster man, 29, were arrested and interviewed in relation to the Commonwealth offences of using a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence and dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information.They were expected to be charged on summons.
AFP Detective Superintendent Tim Stainton said SIM boxes were cheap and malicious machines criminals used to defraud hundreds of victims at a time.
“Criminals will send millions of deceptive text messages to Australian mobile users’ casting a wide net over the entire community in an attempt to trap and defraud as many victims as possible,” Det-Supt Tim Stainton said.
“If not disrupted through police action, the SIM boxes had a combined potential to continue to distribute between four and six million fraudulent messages every day.
“The AFP will not tolerate the exploitation of Australians, especially victims who have had their personal data stolen, and is working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to eradicate the criminal exploitation of SIM boxes nationwide.”
