Australian Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Using Others’ Documents to Create Crypto Accounts

According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), in August 2022, law enforcement initiated an operation named Stonefish. It was launched after UK authorities began investigating a website offering spoofing services for just 20 British pounds (about $25). The site was found to facilitate identity theft and financial fraud.

The AFP discovered that an Australian was connected to this website. He opened accounts on two cryptocurrency exchanges using fake documents. To pass the KYC procedure, the offender provided other people’s driver’s licenses with their data but his own photograph. The Australian federal government’s website Report Cyber, dedicated to gathering information on cybercrimes, received a complaint from a resident of New South Wales. The victim reported that someone had created a bank account in his name. As a result of the fraudster’s actions, the total losses of the victims amounted to 1 million Australian dollars ($670,000).

In November 2022, AFP officers searched the criminal’s residence, seizing various forms, fake driver’s licenses, a lost passport, and other documents in other people’s names. On the perpetrator’s computer, the police found an encrypted messaging platform containing instructions for creating fake documents. During the search, the man refused to provide access codes to his devices.

“Identity theft can have serious consequences for people’s lives because this information is sold over the Internet or used for criminal purposes. It is a serious criminal offense punishable by significant prison time,” said Senior Inspector Tim Stainton.

It is worth noting that in April, the authorities of Australia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange data on digital asset holders to more effectively combat tax evaders.