Credit card fraudster to return home

A MELBOURNE man involved in a scam that used fraudulent credit card details to purchase expensive phones in Hobart has been released after spending more than two months in jail.

The court heard Marko Mawen Chol, 18, and his three co-accused flew to Hobart under fake names on May 27 and used false credit card details to obtain seven iPhone Xs from Telstra worth $12,768 and an iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 to the value of $2676 from Essentially Mobile.

Chol, of West Footscray, was also charged separately with providing false credit card details to Vodafone to buy a pair of $379 wireless Beats by Dre headphones.

During sentencing yester- day, Magistrate Reg Marron said the men’s deception started before they even touched down in Hobart.

“I find that the purpose for you coming here was to defraud Hobart retail outlets, particularly mobile phone stores,” he said.

“I’m satisfied that you intended to use a technique to exploit a hole in the credit card verification process by providing false numbers while distracting staff. You then attempted to mail those phones back to yourself in Victoria.”

Magistrate Marron ordered Chol pay a $650 fine and be subject to a probation order for 18 months in Victoria for his involvement in the crimes.

“You’ve been in custody since May 28 and this is the first time you’ve been charged, so I’m sure it was a very sobering experience,” he said.

“Can I suggest you don’t have anything to do with the other boys ever again.”

When asked by Magistrate Marron if he had any plans to return to the state, Chol shook his head and said “no”.

He was expected to fly back to Victoria last night.

Chol pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining goods by false pretences, computer-related fraud, forgery, uttering and unlawful possession of property.

He also pleaded guilty to taking a flight using an air passenger ticket under a false name and failing to comply with an order, which involved providing police the pin code to his phone. chanel.kinniburgh

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