Toll mounts in $10,000 fraud spree

Local businesses are likely to be left counting the cost of a fraudulent credit card spree in excess of $10,000 by a group of men last week.

Albany detectives are investigating the fraud offences, which are expected to mount as businesses continue to come forward.

Detectives believe three men, described as dark-skinned and between 18 and 28 years of age, used a mobile device on EFTPOS machines at local businesses last Saturday obtaining more than $10,000 in iTunes cards, prepaid EFTPOS cards and store gift cards through multiple transactions.

Detective-First Class Constable Doug Veal said the men were captured on security footage using the device and typing in multiple numbers that might reflect credit card details.

He said service stations, supermarkets, newsagents and elec-tronic goods stores had been targeted in the one day and it was likely the amount fraudu-lently obtained could rise as businesses continued to come forward.

“We are still ascertaining how many stores have been affected in the Albany area,” he said.

“Some of those stores we know are being notified by banks yesterday and today (Tuesday) and they are coming forward to police.

“The amount that has been purchased with fraudulent transactions is in excess of $10,000.

“We have identified one store that has had excess of $5000 worth of failed transactions, whether that is the card that has been declined or the person putting through the transaction has cancelled it.”

Det-First Class Const. Veal said businesses needed to be vigilant by looking out for suspicious multiple transactions and purchases.

“Suspicious activity may be someone putting a device on the EFTPOS machine, it could be the repeated purchase of certain things like EFTPOS giftcards that would appear to be suspicious like if they purchased $1000 worth and they have gone back and purchased another $1000,” he said.

“Repeat transactions could be deemed suspicious and we are asking community members to report that suspicious activity to police and we can investigate it.

“We have identified three males we would like to speak to in connection with the offending.

“We believe they can assist us with our investigations.”

Anyone with information who can assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.