Blacktown: International student Aman Kumar charged with fraud, dealing with proceeds of crime

An international student, accused of involvement in a fraud ring targeting elderly people across Sydney, allegedly spent thousands in swindled funds on iPhones, gift cards and clothing.

Elderly people were allegedly tricked into handing over their credit cards, with which Aman Kumar allegedly bought iPhones.

An Indian student, accused of involvement in a fraud ring targeting elderly people across Sydney, allegedly spent thousands in swindled funds on iPhones, gift cards and clothing, a court has heard.

Student Aman Kumar, 22, kept his head down as he faced Blacktown Local Court via video link on Wednesday, when he was refused bail after being arrested and charged with defrauding several people.

Police said in a statement Kumar’s arrest had followed reports of 28 incidents of elderly people being defrauded across greater Sydney over the last six months.

The alleged victims say they were approached by people who pretended to be bank officials and claimed their accounts had been compromised.

According to investigators, then alleged victims were then tricked into leaving their credit cards or money in an envelope, with their PIN details, in their letterboxes.

Police allege elderly people were duped into giving their credit cards to a fraud ring.

It is alleged these were then used to make fraudulent purchases and cash withdrawals at various ATMs.

In total, police claim elderly victims were duped out of more than $65,000.

On Wednesday, the court heard Kumar was allegedly part of a “joint criminal enterprise” and that he was accused of committing frauds with a total of value of more than $48,000.

Court documents reveal he has been charged in relation to five alleged victims — including a couple — who are said to have been targeted between August 27 and October 30.

Those people came from Lane Cove North, Glenwood and Springwood.

After allegedly defrauding them, Kumar is accused of spending some of the tainted funds on a dozen iPhones, clothing items that include basketball shoes, gift cards, electronics, a packet of cigarettes and essential items such as fuel and groceries.

The court heard he had also allegedly sent a large amount of swindled money back to India.

Police are yet to identify or charge any other alleged members of the syndicate.

Police prosecutor Mohit Kumar, who is not related to the 22-year-old, told the court Kumar had been captured on CCTV across the Sydney area withdrawing money and making transactions.

Sgt Kumar opposed bail, saying the defendant was a flight risk given he was an international student.

The prosecutor also claimed Kumar posed a risk of harming the community if released from custody.

Blacktown Local Court, where magistrate Debra Maher refused bail. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Kumar’s lawyer told the court her client was prepared to hand over his passport and said he had some ties to the community, attending a college in Strathfield every weekend.

She also said the allegations levelled at her client were very complex and serious.

Kumar has been charged with 27 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one of recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime.

Magistrate Debra Maher said while Kumar was not accused of being the mastermind behind the alleged fraud ring, he had allegedly been clearly seen at letterboxes and withdrawing cash from ATMs.

She agreed with Sgt Kumar that the young student was too much of a flight risk and noted his ties to others allegedly involved in the fraud syndicate who had not yet been identified.

Ms Maher accordingly remanded Kumar in custody to reappear on December 2.