Gympie businesses hit by credit card fraud

A man has been arrested and charged in relation to a number of credit card fraud offences carried out in Australia.

The 27-year-old male, who is Malaysian, is thought to be part of a criminal gang who have been purchasing items using credit cards that have either been obtained by fraudulent means or are false.

Two businesses in the Gympie area are known to have already fallen victim to the crooks - thought to number between two and four and be of Malaysian appearance, reports the Gympie Times.

However, Brett Long, acting sergeant for Criminal Investigation Branch in Gympie, is calling on organisations who think they may have been affected to come forward and to be aware of any suspicious looking transactions.

It is also thought that the ring of credit card criminals has carried out property and fraud offences in Maryborough and the Sunshine Coast.

The arrested man has made an appearance at Brisbane magistrates court and if found guilty could face deportation.

Australians looking to reduce the likelihood of being a victim of credit card fraud may also be interested in recent comments by Angus Kidman, where in a Lifehacker Australia article he urges people against shopping online using a public computer or sharing their credit card details by email.