Additional charges laid over alleged Internet banking scam

A 26 year old Sydney man has been granted bail after appearing before the NSW District Court on charges relating to an alleged Internet banking scam.

Andrei Aladushkin, a bus driver from the inner-Sydney suburb of Surry Hills faces 12 charges of acting as an accessory after the fact to dishonestly obtaining money by deception.

Computerworld understands that a small number of Commonwealth Bank (CBA) customers were tricked into handing over their NetBank usernames and passwords to crooks earlier this year after receiving an e-mail purportedly from the CBA instructing them to go to a scam Web site to change their account verification details. It is understood the site then logged the fooled customers’ NetBank user IDs and passwords.

Aladushkin was arrested at the Crown Street branch of the Commonwealth Bank in Surry Hills by New South Wales police. It is alleged he made a dozen separate withdrawals.

The court ordered a brief of evidence be presented on the 8th of May, with a further mention set for the 22nd of May 2003.

The court heard the Aladushkin intends to plead not guilty to the charges.

The CBA refused to comment on matters currently before the courts.