Tonga Harris charged with 19 bank card fraud offences, Central Coast, Hunter, Southern Highlands, Illawarra, Canberra
Police claim the Central Coast man stole bank cards before he called the owners and extracted vital information from them, which he allegedly used to withdraw money from ATMs.
Newcastle
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A Central Coast man has been accused of ripping off 15 elderly residents more then $20,000 across the Central Coast, Hunter, Southern Highlands, Illawarra and Canberra as part of an alleged bank card fraud scheme
Tonga Harris, 45, of Springfield has been charged with 19 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, and possessing a prohibited drug.
His arrest followed an investigation in February by Hume Police into fraud offences committed against older members of the community.
Residents from retirements villages and residential complexes received phone calls between January and April from a man — alleged to be Harris — claiming he was from their bank.
Police allege Harris stole bank cards before calling the owners and extracting their information.
He then withdrew cash — which totalled more than $20,000 — from ATMs in East Maitland, East Gosford, Tahmoor, Tuggerah Lakes, Belmont, Dapto and Canberra.
Following extensive inquiries, police raided a home in Springfield, near Gosford at about 8.30am Monday and arrested the 45-year-old.
There, officers seized mobile phones, cannabis, banking documentation and clothing.
At Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, Harris’ solicitor made an application for his release.
The prosecution opposed bail aarguing Harris was already on bail for another offence when he allegedly committed the frauds.
He told the court the accused was a clear risk for further offending.
“The offences were done over such a large jurisdiction. One victim was 81-years-old,” he said.
But Magistrate Hugh Donnelly granted bail with strict conditions attached which included living with his mother at a Springfield address and not being able to leave unless in her company.
His matter has been adjourned until next month.