Perth, WA – Four men are facing multiple charges in connection with a large-scale SMS phishing scam that has allegedly defrauded unsuspecting Western Australians out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The scammers used a variety of methods to trick victims into sharing their personal and banking details, enabling them to rack up over $300,000 in a two-week spree of fraudulent spending.
Among the accused is a 22-year-old Singara man, who was arrested at Perth Airport after arriving on a flight from Sydney on September 20. Footage released by the police shows him being escorted off the plane in handcuffs under tight security.
The group, accused of running an elaborate SMS phishing scheme, posed as trusted institutions, including banks, to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive financial information. Phishing scams typically involve scammers impersonating legitimate companies, often sending links through text messages or emails, which lead to fake websites designed to steal personal data.
According to investigators, the suspects used the stolen banking information to make unauthorized purchases through Apple Pay at various Perth retailers, from July 28 to August 10, 2023. This prompted a nationwide investigation led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The scammers were able to generate significant revenue at a very low cost by exploiting this method.
Cybersecurity expert Paul Haskell-Dowland explained that SMS phishing scams have become more sophisticated over time. “It’s a very, very low-cost way of potentially generating hundreds of thousands of dollars of revenue,” he told 9News. “Recognizing scams used to be relatively simple, but now scammers have become more clever with their tactics.”
The arrested men, aged between 19 and 31, are facing over 70 charges, including fraud, theft, and conspiracy. In addition to the Singara man, the other suspects include 24-year-old Sam Joseph Wareing from Kallaroo, a 19-year-old man from Banksia Grove, and a 31-year-old man from Morley.
Sam Joseph Wareing was scheduled to appear in Fremantle Magistrates Court but failed to show up. His lawyer cited illness as the reason for his absence. He is expected to plead not guilty to the charges at Perth Magistrates Court later this month.
The scam has raised concerns about the rising number of SMS phishing cases in Australia, with reports of text scams increasing by 37 percent last year. In 2023, phone call scams alone led to a loss of $116 million, with older Australians, particularly those over 65, being the most vulnerable.
Authorities urge the public to be cautious when receiving unsolicited messages and to never share sensitive personal information. “The advice is simple: be aware and never share your details with anyone unless you’re certain of their identity,” Haskell-Dowland advised.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to search for additional perpetrators believed to be involved in the phishing syndicate.