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An Australian man was sentenced to two years in prison for cyber-enabled identity theft, including using fake documents to create online cryptocurrency exchange accounts. On June 21, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported that the 31-year-old Australian man was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court. The man was charged following an international investigation into a website selling technology that enabled fraud, linked to thefts exceeding 1 million Australian dollars from victims.
Notable Investigation in Australia
AFP launched Operation Stonefish in August 2022 after UK authorities investigated a website offering forgery services for as low as 20 pounds. The site facilitated identity theft and financial fraud. Report Cyber, the Australian Federal Government’s cybercrime reporting site, received a complaint from a victim in New South Wales about an unauthorized bank account being created.
AFP investigations revealed that the Australian man used fake driver’s licenses with victims’ personal information and his own photo to open accounts on two cryptocurrency exchanges. In November 2022, AFP officers executed a search warrant at the man’s home in Boronia. They seized blank and fake licenses, lost passports, and various cards in other people’s names.
Details on the Matter
Authorities also found an encrypted messaging platform on the man’s computer, containing discussions on identity-based crimes and guides for creating fake documents. The man refused to provide access codes to his devices during the search. Detective Chief Inspector Tim Stainton emphasized the severe impact of identity theft and stated:
“Having one’s identity stolen can have serious consequences for victims and is a serious crime punishable by long prison sentences. The use of stolen identity and related fake documents, if sold online or used for criminal purposes, can have a devastating impact on people’s lives.”
The Australian man was found guilty of various charges under the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 and the Criminal Code. These charges include providing false information, dealing with proceeds of crime, producing and possessing fake documents, and failing to comply with a court order.
