Melbourne man among alleged Facebook Marketplace thieves stealing almost $2M

A Wyndham Vale man is among an alleged cross-state cybercrime syndicate accused of laundering almost $2m stolen from victims on social media.

A Wyndham Vale man is among four alleged cyber criminals accused of laundering almost $2m in stolen cash as part of a cross-state crime syndicate.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Thursday raided properties across Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide following investigations that began in October 2021.

The group have been accused of laundering $1.7m in cash stolen from victims in Australia and overseas, allegedly targeting victims on Facebook Marketplace and collecting fraudulent superannuation investments.

A Wyndham Vale man was arrested by police for allegedly laundering stolen cash as part of a cross-state crime syndicate. Picture: Supplied

Police descended on addresses in Manor Lakes and Wyndham Vale before arresting a 26-year-old Wyndham Vale man.

Investigators laid more than a dozen charges against the alleged syndicate, who they believe ran more than 180 bank accounts with stolen identities in more than 15 incidents between January 2020 and March this year.

They charged the Wyndham Vale man with possessing false documents and possessing a fake travel document – charges that carry a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 15.

The AFP began probing the syndicate after an Indonesian business lost more than $100,000 in an email attack, uncovering a slew of fake passports, international driver's licences, a stash of luxury handbags and several digital devices.

Four alleged cyber criminals are accused of laundering almost $2m in stolen cash. Picture: Supplied

Individual victims are believed to have lost up to $500,000 each.

AFP Cybercrime Operations Commander Chris Goldsmid said cybercrime was spiking at an “alarming” rate as criminals’ techniques became increasingly cunning.

“Business email compromise has become a particularly prominent cyber threat, which is why the AFP, through Operation Dolos, remains focused on protecting Australians who are being targeted in these attacks,” he said.

“Now, more than ever, we need individuals and businesses to remain hyper vigilant when conducting online transactions.

Two 35-year-old and 27-year-old women from Brisbane and a 30-year-old Adelaide man allegedly laundered money believed to have been obtained fraudulently as part of a cybercrime syndicate linked to South Africa.

The 27-year-old woman, from the Brisbane suburb of Sherwood, faces a dozen fraud charges that carry a 10 year prison sentence each.