A group of scammers who managed to swindle a victim out of $17,000 by posing as Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers have been brought down by the real thing.
Two men were arrested in Sydney's west on Friday, with the AFP saying they were part of a syndicate that stole money from Australian victims.
An investigation began in October last year when one victim called the AFP to verify contact from people who claimed to be officials from the federal police and Services Australia.
It is alleged the victim had been deceived into handing over personal information and funds from their bank account.
The AFP said the group also obtained credit cards from the victim and used them to withdraw cash from ATMs.
It is alleged the syndicate tricked victims into handing over credit cards and personal details by telling them they were under investigation or that their identity had been stolen.
Taskforce Vanguard has been unravelling the alleged fraud syndicate in the months since, with the first arrests made yesterday.
On Friday, AFP and Australian Border Force officers raided homes in Rosehill and seized items including mobile phones and documents suspected to be from other scam victims.
Two men, aged 27 and 26, were arrested and each was charged with the Commonwealth offence of committing an offence for the benefit of an organisation.
They face maximum penalty of seven years' jail if convicted.
Both men were refused bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
Detective Acting Sergeant Matthew Veraguth said anyone contacted by someone claiming to be an AFP officer should ask for their name and badge number.
"They must provide this to you," he said.
If they do not, Acting Sergeant Veraguth said, hang up immediately and call the AFP switch line.
Investigations into the alleged fraud syndicate are ongoing.
