Sydney man faces charges for allegedly sending 17 million scam texts
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In an era where technology is a part of our everyday lives, the threat of cybercrime is ever-present.
A recent case in Sydney has highlighted the extent of this threat, with a man being charged for allegedly sending over 17 million scam texts and impersonating well-known businesses such as Australia Post and Linkt.
The 39-year-old man was apprehended at a Moorebank address in Sydney's south-west early Tuesday morning.
The arrest followed an investigation into the use of SIM boxes, devices used to send mass fraudulent texts across networks nationwide.
These texts typically masquerade as legitimate communications from reputable institutions, directing unsuspecting victims to fake websites for financial gain.
'During a search of the property, officers located two active SIM boxes, a number of SIM cards, and electronics consistent with running a fraudulent text message scam,' police reported in a statement.
'The items were seized to undergo further forensic examination.'
A SIM box can reportedly house over 250 active SIM cards, capable of sending out up to 150,000 messages a day.
The device can hold SIM cards from different mobile operators, and therefore work with several Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) gateways in different locations.
This case underscores the scale at which these scams can operate and the potential number of victims that can be targeted in a single day.
The man was taken to Liverpool Police Station and was charged with using equipment connected to a network to commit a serious offence.
He has been granted conditional bail and is due to face local court in the New Year.
In light of this incident, Cybercrime Commander Jason Smith has urged Australians, particularly those expecting online deliveries during the holiday season, to be wary of such texts and to never click on the links.
'Legitimate businesses will never call or SMS customers seeking confidential information. Always be suspicious when you receive such requests,' he advised.
'Scammers will often pretend to be from a reputable company or financial institution so even if it's a company you regularly deal with, the safer option is to independently log into that company's website to check your account.'
Australia Post, one of the companies impersonated in the scam, is expecting a surge in deliveries this holiday season.
Last December, they sent out 52 million parcels, according to a statement from November.
The courier company has issued a warning against scam texts and specified it would never call, text or email customers asking for personal or financial information. It also clarified that it would never request payment or ask customers to click a link to print off a label to redeem their package.
According to the police, phishing, the practice of obtaining sensitive information through deceptive electronic communications, is the most common form of scam that offenders use to obtain banking and other personal information from a victim.
While authorities are working tirelessly to stamp out this crime, Australians are urged to remain aware and smart.
'The scammers are powerless if you don't play into their hands,' Smith added.
Have you ever received a suspicious text or email? Share your experiences and tips for staying safe online in the comments below.
A recent case in Sydney has highlighted the extent of this threat, with a man being charged for allegedly sending over 17 million scam texts and impersonating well-known businesses such as Australia Post and Linkt.
The 39-year-old man was apprehended at a Moorebank address in Sydney's south-west early Tuesday morning.
The arrest followed an investigation into the use of SIM boxes, devices used to send mass fraudulent texts across networks nationwide.
A man was arrested for allegedly sending 17 million scam texts. Image source: Shutterstock.
These texts typically masquerade as legitimate communications from reputable institutions, directing unsuspecting victims to fake websites for financial gain.
'During a search of the property, officers located two active SIM boxes, a number of SIM cards, and electronics consistent with running a fraudulent text message scam,' police reported in a statement.
'The items were seized to undergo further forensic examination.'
A SIM box can reportedly house over 250 active SIM cards, capable of sending out up to 150,000 messages a day.
The device can hold SIM cards from different mobile operators, and therefore work with several Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) gateways in different locations.
This case underscores the scale at which these scams can operate and the potential number of victims that can be targeted in a single day.
The man was taken to Liverpool Police Station and was charged with using equipment connected to a network to commit a serious offence.
He has been granted conditional bail and is due to face local court in the New Year.
In light of this incident, Cybercrime Commander Jason Smith has urged Australians, particularly those expecting online deliveries during the holiday season, to be wary of such texts and to never click on the links.
'Legitimate businesses will never call or SMS customers seeking confidential information. Always be suspicious when you receive such requests,' he advised.
'Scammers will often pretend to be from a reputable company or financial institution so even if it's a company you regularly deal with, the safer option is to independently log into that company's website to check your account.'
Australia Post, one of the companies impersonated in the scam, is expecting a surge in deliveries this holiday season.
Last December, they sent out 52 million parcels, according to a statement from November.
The courier company has issued a warning against scam texts and specified it would never call, text or email customers asking for personal or financial information. It also clarified that it would never request payment or ask customers to click a link to print off a label to redeem their package.
According to the police, phishing, the practice of obtaining sensitive information through deceptive electronic communications, is the most common form of scam that offenders use to obtain banking and other personal information from a victim.
While authorities are working tirelessly to stamp out this crime, Australians are urged to remain aware and smart.
'The scammers are powerless if you don't play into their hands,' Smith added.
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