14 DAY TRIAL // An Australian boy pleaded guilty to 33 counts of fraud. Between March 10 and July 3, the 15-year-old attempted to trick several banks into accepting fake checks. Although he was planning to gain 300,000 Australian dollars, the equivalent of 250,000 USD, fortunately for the institutions, only few of his checks were honored, but he still managed to get 13,000 Australian dollars, which is over 10,000USD.
The kid, whose name is being held secret, due to the fact that he is a minor, employed an interesting method for his tricks. First of all, he registered, using the Internet, a number of six business names, to have a backup for his request to open check accounts. To avoid any suspicions, the young man opened these accounts with different banks. “He then wrote checks that he knew would be dishonored to either obtain property, pay debts or open further check accounts,” said prosecutor Simon Formby to the Perth Children's Court. “Apparently this fellow was a bit of a computer whiz.”
Besides the check fraud, the boy also stole the credit card details of two of the customers of a fast food restaurant where he used to work. He tried to make some phone transactions using the information, but the banks realized that something was not right and canceled them. On the day the scammer made the second call to a bank, security called the police, who tracked him down and went to his home with a warrant.
Although the defendant is a minor and will be sentenced by a special court, he might face prison. Magistrate Sue Gordon said for the Sydney Morning Herald that, first of all, the boy needs to realize how serious his crime was.”Sometimes young people try these things because they can and they think they will get away with it,” Ms. Gordon said. The sentence in the case of the 15-year-old will be given next month. Until then, the judge also ordered a psychological exam.