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A South Coast man will face court after targeting telco customers with a late payment scam.
An NSW South Coast man has been charged with scam-related offences and is expected to face a Batemans Bay Local Court today (15 September) following an AFP investigation.
The AFP alleged that the man sent phishing messages to the customers of a particular telco, telling them that their service was in danger of being restricted due to late payments.
The messages linked to a website that harvested victims’ credentials and banking details.
The telco provider informed the AFP of the suspicious activity following customer reports, and the police began an investigation on 20 August. The AFP executed a search warrant on the man’s Tomakin property on 9 September and found several evidentiary items, including computers, laptops, and several mobile devices, allegedly hidden in a drainage pipe.
A forensic examination of the devices allegedly found the personally identifiable information of several other people alongside credentials for a number of websites and applications.
“Cyber crime offending is becoming increasingly sophisticated, demanding a more advanced and targeted response to scam activity by police,” AFP Detective Inspector Steven Wiggins said in a 15 September statement.
“ScamWatch data shows more than 108,000 reports of scams and financial losses in the first six months of 2025, with losses to the Australian economy during this time estimated at more than $174 million.”
Detective Inspector Wiggins said that scammers don’t discriminate, which is why scam awareness matters.
“Police, government, business, and individuals all have a role to play in building a scam-aware community, meaning criminals who engage in these practices are less likely to succeed,” he said.
“I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a scam, even if you did not suffer a loss, to make a report to the relevant authorities.
“Every report helps track patterns and protect others in our community.”
The 36-year-old man has been charged with one count of producing/supplying/obtaining data with intent to commit a computer offence and one count of dishonestly obtaining/dealing in personal financial information.
If found guilty of both charges, the man could face up to eight years in prison.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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