NSW Police Cybercrime Squad detectives have laid 11 additional charges against a 29-year-old Zealand man, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged $5.89 million business email compromise scam syndicate targeting Australian companies.
In September 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad established Strike Force Belltree to investigate a criminal syndicate targeting businesses across the country through email scams.
Their inquiries revealed that altered invoices had been sent to legitimate businesses for payment through an email scam, before the funds were transferred into personal accounts.
So far during the investigation, Strike Force Belltree detectives, with assistance from officers across the Central Metropolitan Region, have charged 14 people. They all remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, Cybercrime Squad detectives laid an additional 11 counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime with intent to conceal, against the Zealand man at Central Local Court yesterday.
Police will allege in court that the additional 11 offences relate to proceeds of crime valued at more than $1.8 million.
The man is now facing a total of 32 charges over his alleged involvement in a $5.89 million business email compromise scam syndicate.
He is next due to appear at Central Local Court on Thursday 20 August.
Investigations under Strike Force Belltree are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Belltree detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.^
