Aussie Arrested in Italy for $31 Million Cyber Fraud Scheme

The Italian police have apprehended an Australian citizen, wanted in the United States for his involvement in an international cyber fraud scheme that targeted elderly individuals and other vulnerable groups. According to investigators, the criminal group’s actions caused losses amounting to approximately 31 million USD (around 46 million AUD).

The 44-year-old man, whose name has not yet been disclosed, was placed on an international wanted list over three years ago and, as reported by the police, holds dual Italian-Australian nationality. He was detained at Milan’s Malpensa Airport upon arrival from a flight originating in Singapore. His arrest was executed under a warrant issued by a North Carolina court following a joint investigation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Italian cyber police.

The fraud scheme operated by infiltrating victims’ computer systems. Error messages would appear on users’ screens, followed by a prompt to contact a specialized call center for technical support. The perpetrators would then convince victims to pay for this supposed assistance, though no actual services were provided. Through these fraudulent operations, the criminals illegally gained a profit of 31 million USD.

Police reports suggest that the criminal organization operated globally, although the exact number of victims and their geographic spread, aside from the U.S., remains unclear. It is not yet known how many people outside the United States fell victim to this scheme.

At the time of the suspect’s arrest, a large sum of cash in euros, multiple computers, credit cards, and expensive watches were found in his possession. The Australian national is currently being held in Busto Arsizio prison, located 35 kilometers north of Milan. Within the next two days, he is expected to appear before a judge to determine whether he will be extradited to the United States, where he faces up to 30 years in prison on charges of computer fraud, cybersecurity violations, and money laundering.

The potential lengthy prison sentence is due to the fact that more than 10 of the victims are over the age of 55. In July, Italian authorities also arrested another cybercriminal who was similarly wanted by the FBI.