The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police have announced that two men from Bendigo, Victoria have been charged with offences relating to alleged denial of service-style attacks committed against Australian Government infrastructure, including police telephone systems.
The Forces said a joint investigation had begun in November 2018 after a wave of telephone system attacks in the previous month.
They said a large volume of automated attacks occurred involving cold-calling numbers with the intention of tying up police phone lines by interrupting incoming or outgoing calls.
Officers from the AFP’s Cybercrime Operations and the Victoria Police E-Crime Squad were assisted by members of the AFP’s Specialist Response Group and Victoria Police Special Operations Group when search warrants were executed at three Bendigo premises.
A 28-year-old man from Bendigo has been charged with unauthorised access to data held in a computer; using a carriage service to make a threat to cause serious harm; using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence; dishonestly obtaining or dealing with personal financial information; and sabotage.
The man was remanded in custody to appear before Bendigo Magistrates Court.
A second Bendigo man, aged 27, has been charged with three firearms offences and was granted bail.
Acting Commander Cybercrime Operations at the AFP, Chris Goldsmid said the seriousness of the alleged offending couldn’t be overstated.
“Each occasion a police phone line was unavailable as result of these malicious attacks meant members of the public were unable to access a vital service,” Acting Commander Goldsmid said.
“This had serious implications for the broader community.”
He said some of the attacks included a spate of text messages asking for emergency assistance.
“People who called the number back reported being verbally abused by a recording on the other end.”
He said the joint investigative work undertaken by officers from both police forces to disrupt the brazen offending had been exceptional.
“It is yet another example of the excellent results achieved when the resources and capabilities of the Commonwealth and States are joined up,” Acting Commander Goldsmid said.
