Equipment seized in ID fraud bust

Computer equipment and identity documents have been seized in Sydney as part of police investigations into a large identity fraud syndicate.

The Identity Crime Task Force (ICTF) seized equipment and documents last week from properties in Greenacre, Homebush West and Lidcombe, according to a statement from the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison.

“The scale of this criminal operation shows the lengths criminals will go to in an effort to take over the identities of innocent victims,” said Ellison.

Computers, a Datacard plastic card reader, a card laminator as well as large numbers of bank key cards, blank plastic cards and false Medicare and NSW drivers licences were among the items seized.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the investigations and has been charged with 15 counts of possessing forged Commonwealth documents, four counts of unlawfully obtained goods in premises, three of possession of implements for making false instruments and four counts of custody of false instruments.

The man appeared before the Central Local Court last week and was remanded to appear again Wednesday 16 March.

Police are continuing investigations into the syndicate.