Four Chinese students are charged in Australia over a sophisticated online scam with more than $100million allegedly stolen
- Australian authorities arrested four Chinese citizens in Sydney over cyber scam
- ‘Sophisticated’ con involves manipulating legitimate financial trading software
- The AFP was tipped off by the US Secret Service about the $US100million scam
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Four Chinese nationals living in Sydney have been charged with being involved in an international cyber-scam that has allegedly stolen more than $US100million worldwide.
The four men, aged 27, 24,19 and 19, have been charged with offences linked to the proceeds of crime after the Australian Federal Police were tipped off by US authorities.
The alleged investment scam is ‘highly-sophisticated’ and involves hackers manipulating legitimate electronic trading software that is provided to clients by licensed foreign exchange brokers.
The US Secret Service, in August 2022, notified Australia’s Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre – which is led by the AFP – about Australian links to the mainly US-based scam.
AFP have arrested four Chinese citizens (pictured) living in Sydney connected to an investigation into a $US100million cyber scam
Australian authorities were tipped off by the US Secret Service after the found an alleged Australian link
The AFP then began their own investigation – codenamed Operation Wickham – in cooperation with New South Wales Police Force leading to the arrests.
About $22.5million across 24 bank accounts has been frozen by Australian authorities in connection to the scam.
The syndicate was allegedly using the Chinese nationals living in Australia, who are mostly students, to help build the infrastructure required to facilitate the fraud.
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It will be alleged the four people arrested were used to register Australian companies with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to enhance the legitimate appearance of fraud efforts.
They were also allegedly used to establish Australian business bank accounts to launder the proceeds of crime.
The investigation into the scope of the scam and how much money has ben stolen from Australian investors remains ongoing.
The four men will next appear in Downing Centre Local Court in January 2023.
The arrested men will appear in court next year charged with offences linked to the proceeds of crime
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