Solution Tech assisted with a complex cyber fraud case that blended elements of online romance scams, identity theft, and cross-border financial crime. A fraudster had managed to exploit personal trust and technical loopholes to defraud an Australian hardware retailer—leaving them without both payment and goods.
What appeared to be a routine fraudulent credit card transaction quickly evolved into a multi-layered scam with international reach.
The Scam Uncovered
The fraudster had used stolen credit card details to purchase high-end laptops from an Australian hardware supplier, amounting to over $10,000 in total value. But the scam didn’t stop there. Using a dating site, the perpetrator formed an online relationship with a woman in New South Wales, convincing her to receive the shipment on his behalf. He explained the purchase as a business transaction and asked her to forward the goods to an address in Africa, promising reimbursement and even romance.
To add another layer of deception, after the goods were delivered and forwarded overseas, the fraudster contacted the issuing bank, pretending to be the legitimate cardholder. He successfully disputed the transaction, triggering a chargeback and reclaiming the full amount—effectively acquiring the laptops for free while leaving the seller out of pocket.
How Solution Tech Responded
Solution Tech helped affected retailers to provide technical expertise, fraud analysis, and digital forensics to unravel the scam and support prosecution.
1.Forensic Analysis of Transaction Trails
Our specialists analyzed:
- E-commerce logs and device fingerprints
- Shipping metadata and courier Tracking
- IP addresses and email headers from purchase communications
We uncovered the use of VPNs, disposable emails, and temporary phone numbers designed to mask the scammer’s identity.
2. Coordination with Payment Processors and Banks
Solution Tech liaised with the payment gateway and financial institutions to:
- Reconstruct the fraud timeline
- Demonstrate that the chargeback was fraudulently initiated
- Provide logs and metadata showing how the real cardholder’s identity was spoofed
- Provide emails, phone calls recording
This evidence was critical in helping the retailer seek reimbursement and in triggering a bank-level investigation into the stolen card credentials.
Outcome
Our team collaborated closely with NSW Police and successfully recovered two laptops just before they were picked up by the courier.
