Police have smashed an international identity-theft ring accused of making thousands of fake driver's licences to fraudulently obtain loans and credit cards and board domestic flights.
Three men and a woman were arrested in Sydney on Wednesday, eight months after officers detected a package from China containing 5000 NSW driver's licence holograms.
It will be alleged the Sydney-based syndicate created fake licences, Medicare and credit cards and that some of the fraudulent identification cards were used to steal money from Australian financial institutions.
The highly sophisticated operation was dismantled by a strike force comprising officers from the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Police raided the Rockdale home of the alleged mastermind on Wednesday and seized 60 mobile phones, as well as computers, card templates, pay slips, bank statements, cash and numerous false identity documents.
The 25-year-old man, an Indian national, is expected to appear before Kogarah Local Court later on Thursday, charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud, dealing with identification information, possessing equipment/material to make false documents and participation in a criminal group.
During a series of early morning raids, officers also arrested a 40-year-old Vietnamese national at Canley Vale, a 41-year-old Lakemba man and a 57-year-old man from Canley Vale.
NSW Police Force Fraud and Cybercrime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, said identity theft posed the greatest threat to law enforcement in the 21st century and had key links to people-smuggling and money laundering.
"Once your identity has been stolen, it's very difficult to get it back and avoid all the repercussions that follow that," he said.
"Our message to members of the public is to always be cautious of who you provide your personal and financial information to, ensuring that there is a legitimate reason to do so."
Police will allege that, during the raids at Canley Vale, they discovered computer equipment, printers, card cutters, thousands of blank cards, a large quantity of holograms for licences and credit cards, electronic card templates, card readers and fraudulent identity documents in various states of manufacture from both Australia and overseas.
At Lakemba, officers located items including about 40 mobile phones, a number of credit cards, driver's licences, Medicare cards, laptop computers, USB and hard drives, financial documents and holograms for licences.
A man arrested at Lakemba was refused bail and is due to appear before Burwood Local Court on Thursday, charged with a number of fraud offences and using a false identity to board a domestic flight.
The man and woman arrested at Canley Vale were granted conditional bail and are due to appear at Liverpool Local Court on March 16.
Police also arrested a man, 50, at the Lakemba property who was later handed over to Immigration officers after it was found he was an unlawful non-citizen.
Australian Federal Police Fraud and Anti-Corruption Detective Superintendent Stephen Dametto said identity crime was a key enabler to serious and organised crimes, including terrorism, money laundering and fraud against financial institutions, individuals and government-funded programs.
Identification fraud carries a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment, while participating in a criminal group carries a penalty of up to 15 years' imprisonment.
