Fraud and Cybercrime Squad detectives have arrested a 41-year-old man who has been charged with fraud and identity crime offences.

Strike Force Werewolf was established by the Cybercrime Team, part of the Fraud and Cybercrime Squad, in 2012 to investigate the fraudulent purchase of goods and services using stolen credit card data bought online.

The goods and services included retail items, flights and holiday rentals, cash withdrawals and even mortgage repayments.

Police allege a number of ‘mules’ were used to receive the goods and make cash withdrawals using the stolen credit card data.

Early yesterday (Monday 22 April 2013), a 41-year-old man attended Surry Hills Police Station at the request of detectives and was placed under arrest.

He was charged with eight offences, including deal with identity information to commit indictable offence; dishonestly obtain property by deception; and participate in a criminal group.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Central Local Court on Monday 13 May 2013.

Police allege that in October and December last year, the man withdrew $20,000 from another person’s bank account, attempted to withdraw a further $50,000 from the same account, and attempted to purchase a $50,000 Rolex watch. Suspicious staff had seized a number of identity items and contacted police.

Six other people have been previously arrested and charged by Strike Force Werewolf detectives.

The NSW Police Force Cybercrime Team was created in November of 2011 to identify and apprehend individuals participating in organised crime, cybercrime and technology-enabled crime.

Police provide the following tips to the community to reduce their risk of falling victim to identity and credit card crime:

•      Ensure your mail box is secure to avoid mail theft. •      Protect your personal and financial records and your credit and debit cards by keeping them stored safely. •      Don’t just bin it – destroy old bills, records or expired cards appropriately. Ensure they are destroyed in such a way that the information is no longer legible. •      Delete emails if you don’t know the sender. •      Keep your computer virus protection and firewalls up to date and ensure your operating system is free of malware. •      Do not supply your online passwords to anyone. •      When purchasing goods online, check the bona fides of the company prior to making a payment. •      Be cautious when providing your personal details online, including credit card details. •      Never access internet banking from a link in an email. •      If you have any suspicions about the site you are using, don’t proceed with the payment. •      Do not share your personal identity number (PIN) with anyone and do not keep any written copy of your PIN with the card. •      Cover your hand when entering your PIN into an ATM or EFTPOS machine. •      Regularly check your bank statements for suspicious purchases. •      If you suspect any criminal activity, contact your financial institution and local police station immediately.

For more safety tips, visit www.staysmartonline.gov.au and www.cybersmart.gov.au