Magistrate warns of card fraud ease

A Geraldton magistrate has called credit cards that offer contactless payments “rife for being exploited”, after a 29-year-old man appeared in court on 11 fraud charges for using an unlawfully obtained credit card.

Steven John Mill pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including possession of a housebreaking implement, stealing, obstructing police and possessing methylamphetamines with intent to sell or supply.

Mill was arrested on May 12 when police arrived at the Mahomet Flats residence where he was staying to question another person on unrelated matters.

When he heard the police arrive, Mill tried to hide under a bed to avoid being seen as there was a warrant for his arrest.

Police spotted Mill and he resisted arrest by pulling his arms underneath his chest and refusing to come out from under the bed, though his efforts were futile.

The credit card offences happened on February 1, when Mill racked up $715 in fraudulent transactions in a three-hour period.

Mill used a National Australia Bank credit card to make payWave purchases at a service station, bottle shop, pharmacy and online to buy Telstra pre-paid credit.

The police prosecutor said the only thing that appeared to stop his shopping spree was the card’s owner cottoning on to what was happening.

When interviewed by police after the incident, Mill told them “everyone does it”.

Magistrate Webb said payWave and PayPass offences were not always taken seriously by offenders, but stealing had flow-on effects to the community.

“There is none of the usual writing that accompanies a fraud,” she said.

“That’s where that disconnect comes from, when you’re just waving a card in front of a machine.”

Ms Webb told Mill he looked a different man to when he had first appeared in court, and his counsel said he was no longer suffering a comedown from drug addiction, though he became visibly stressed when the police prosecutor continued to pursue the case for imprisonment.

“After the last 10 days in jail I feel really good,” Mill said.

“I thought I was a nice person when I was on drugs, but after hearing what you said I see that’s wrong.”

Mill was sentenced to a 12-month intensive supervision order, 80 hours of community service and $1000 in fines.