$2.5m TOTE BET SCAM: Extradition for man accused of ripping off betting agency

By Andrew Thomson
Updated November 7 2012 - 3:14pm, first published January 21 2010 - 10:49am

A Warrnambool punter who allegedly scammed $750,000 from Tote Tasmania in a $2.5 million six-week betting splurge is being extradited.Dylan Matthew Johnstone, 22, of Lipook Court, was yesterday arrested and charged with 362 offences relating to computer fraud.He appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court where an extradition order was granted. He will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday.Tasmanian police allege that in the six weeks between November 25 last year and January 8 this year, Mr Johnstone used his internet TAB account to credit himself with $756,914.Mr Johnstone will be alleged to have sidestepped a poor security system on the Tote Tasmania website and was able to send fake messages to have funds transferred to his account.A monthly check by Tote Tasmania revealed discrepancies which led to Mr Johnstone’s account being closed on January 8 and Hobart detectives being called in to investigate. When closed, the account only contained about $5000.Hobart detectives were then allegedly able to confirm Mr Johnstone’s identity and liaised with Victoria Police before arriving in Warrnambool.A search warrant was yesterday executed at Mr Johnstone’s unit.They seized 10 documents and his computer, which will be part of a case being prepared by Hobart’s Detective Senior Sergeant Luke Manhood and Detective Constable Alison Elphinstone.It is understood that Mr Johnstone made admissions to his involvement in the scam during a police interview yesterday.It is believed Mr Johnstone did not try to disguise his identity and that he used his own computer in his alleged criminal endeavours.He booked airline tickets in his own name when police allege he went to Tasmania on December 12 to withdraw $6000 from his TAB account.Police are expected to allege Mr Johnstone bet largely on greyhounds nationally, although he was prepared to dabble on the horses during the $2.5 million betting spree.Tote Tasmania is understood to have launched a review of its security systems and has pointed out that no client accounts were accessed during the alleged scam.Detective Senior Sergeant Manhood yesterday thanked Warrnambool detectives and members of the E-Crime squad for their assistance in executing the search warrant and helping compile evidence. Defence counsel Jacob Torney said at yesterday’s extradition hearing no application for bail was sought and extradition was not opposed.

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