An Australian citizen wanted in the United States for his involvement in an international cyber scam targeting elderly and vulnerable populations has been detained by Italian police. The man, aged 44 and of Italo-Australian descent, was apprehended at Malpensa Airport in Milan after arriving from Singapore. The arrest was made based on a warrant issued by the Court of North Carolina, following a joint investigation by the FBI and Italian cyber police.
The fraud scheme orchestrated by the criminal group involved infiltrating victims’ computer systems and displaying fake error messages prompting them to contact a fraudulent technical support call center. Victims were deceived into paying for technical assistance that was never provided, allowing the attackers to accrue an illegal income of $31 million.
While the exact number of victims outside the United States remains unknown, the police believe the criminal organization operated globally. Upon the suspect’s detainment, a significant amount of cash in euros, multiple computers, credit cards, and luxury watches were seized. The Australian national is currently held at the Busto Arsizio prison, north of Milan, awaiting extradition proceedings to the United States.
If extradited and convicted in the US, the fraudster could face up to 30 years in prison for charges related to computer fraud, cybercrime, and money laundering, particularly given the scheme’s impact on more than 10 elderly victims. This recent arrest adds to the Italian police’s efforts in apprehending cybercriminals, with another individual arrested in July also being sought by the FBI.