By CASEY NEILL
$200,000 stolen from bank account of victim
POLICE are hunting a thief who stole a Dandenong man’s identity – and more than $200,000.
Detective Senior Constable Kane Taylor on Monday appealed for help to find the alleged fraudster, who attended a bank in Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, about 12.45pm on 12 March.
“He’s walked in, he’s produced fake identification to the bank teller and he’s purported to be the victim in this matter,” Det Sen Const Taylor said.
“He’s asked to withdraw a substantial amount of money – just shy of a quarter of a million dollars – and he’s had that money given to him in the form of a cheque.”
The alleged thief then deposited the cheque into an account he’d established in the victim’s name at another bank, and three days later returned to withdraw it in cash.
“He definitely has stolen this guy’s identity,” Det Sen Const Taylor said.
“The main identification that he’s used is the victim’s learner permit, which he’s shown at both banks on all three occasions.”
The victim, in his early 20s, recalled losing the card shortly before the theft.
“We showed the images to the victim and he states that he’s never seen this fella before,” Det Sen Const Taylor said.
The money was in his account from a personal loan for his business.
“For someone to go in and withdraw this amount of money they’d have to know the victim had this amount of cash in the bank account at the time,” he said.
The thief is described as in his late 20s to early 30s, of southern European descent, about 183 centimetres tall and quite slim with olive skin.
He’s seen in security footage wearing a baseball cap and old, light-coloured clothing.
“On the clothing we noticed that he has paint and rendering or some sort of plaster, so we believe he might work in a trade sort of industry,” Det Sen Const Taylor said.
“The victim in this matter works in a tradesman, so whether he was wearing that to pretend to be the victim, or whether that was his line of work, we’re not sure yet.
“We’re hoping that somebody will be able to identify him.
“As a community we shouldn’t stand for this sort of behaviour.”
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any information.
