Fraudster cops double his sentence

A CREDIT card fraudster who used stolen funds to buy fast cars and luxury holidays has had his jail sentence more than doubled on appeal.

Stuart Malcolm Allen, 30, was first jailed for 14 months in August after being found guilty of computer fraud and other related charges.

He had been caught raking in more than $100,000 by using the credit card details of other people to make bogus purchases with online companies he had set up.

He also tried to process, unsuccessfully, a further $165,000 worth of transactions

The charges were processed through Paypal and National Australia Bank’s merchant banking system, with most of- fences committed from March to October 2013.

Once the payments were transferred into the bogus business accounts, Allen immediately placed the money into his personal bank account before Paypal or NAB could reverse the charges, which they ultimately did.

Allen would then immediately withdraw the money.

In one instance, he went to a Glenorchy NAB branch and withdrew $74,000. He bought a $63,000 BMW which, his lawyer says, Allen later sold to pay himself a salary and for two holidays including a stay at the hotel Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast.

Many of the credit card numbers were sourced by Allen while working at the Quest Williamstown North apartments in Melbourne. The true card holders were from at least seven different countries.

At the time of offending, he was on a community service order and a good behaviour bond for a fake insurance claim worth $26,783.

After his sentencing, prosecutors launched an appeal on the basis that 14 months jail was inadequate.

Appeal judges Chief Justice Alan Blow and Justices Robert Pearce and Michael Brett said in their joint judgment yesterday: “[Allen’s] criminal conduct was planned, carefully executed and involved numerous acts of dishonesty over a prolonged period.”

None of the money has been recovered. Allen’s sentence was increased to 2½ years, with a non-parole period of 15 months.