Adriana Foti used stolen ID documents to apply for $18,000 credit card

Adriana Foti, found with ID documents in the names of 71 people, ran a “planned enterprise” to steal documents which she used to commit other crime.

A serial fraudster who raided mailboxes in Geelong and Melbourne to steal bank cards and financial documents which she used to fleece victims of about $25,000 has been jailed for 18 months.

When police swooped on Adriana Foti’s Norlane home on January 9 this year they found ID documents in the names of 71 people which officers said she intended to use to commit crime.

The Geelong Magistrates Court heard this week Foti, 39, ran a “planned enterprise” by stealing identity documents from mailboxes at apartment blocks; using the documents to pose as bank workers to access victims’ accounts; then using the accounts and cards linked to them to transfer money, pay bills and apply for credit.

Adriana Foti faced court on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

She paid for phone credit using stolen bank cards nine times in November last year, and stole mail or ID documents on 42 occasions in October 2022.

On September 13 last year Foti and an accomplice hit mailboxes at the Pier Point apartments in Geelong where she stole a credit card and a letter containing a victim’s personal details.

She used those details to contact the victim, posing as an ANZ bank worker, and got access to his account, the court heard.

The court was told that during the next two days, Foti withdrew $2500 from the victim’s account from a Geelong West teller machine.

Foti also attempted to make 21 transfers from the victim’s account each between $500 and $2000 to a total of $13,500.

Some transactions were reversed, and $8000 was taken from the victim’s account.

Foti also used the stolen card to buy Coca-Cola, Twisties, McDonald’s and other items.

On November 3 last year Foti used stolen ID documents to apply for an $18,000 Commonwealth Bank credit card. It was not detailed in court if the application was approved.

Foti also swindled people who lived in Footscray out of about $6000 after she stole mail from an apartment block.

Foti initially faced more than 400 charges but this week pleaded guilty to about 20 combined charges including burglary, theft, obtaining financial advantage by deception, obtaining property by deception, drug possession and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

Magistrate Michelle Hodgson, who imposed a 12-month non-parole period on Foti, said victims of financial crime could feel fear or a sense of violation.

Foti’s lawyer Gabrielle Nota said her client recognised the offending was serious but did not want to make excuses for it.

“She is aware of the gravity of the offending on the victims and the community,” Ms Nota said.

She said Foti was at one stage a half-gram per day ice user, and she wanted to get drug treatment so she could be present for her daughter.

Originally published as Adriana Foti used stolen ID documents to apply for $18,000 credit card