Cybercrime detectives with NSW Police have executed a search on a home in Fairfield West and arrested a 46-year-old man in connection with an alleged data leak that impacted patrons of up to 19 clubs.
The arrest came just hours after it was revealed that a strike force had been set up in relation to the incident, and that there were already “persons of interest” to the matter.
“Following extensive inquiries, about 4.20pm today, strike force detectives executed a search warrant in Fairfield West,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“At the address, police arrested a 46-year-old man. He will be taken to Fairfield Police Station where he is expected to be charged with blackmail.”
Police said they had worked with other federal and state agencies to “contain the breach”; at a press conference earlier on Thursday, they indicated they had made attempts to disable and ultimately seek the shutdown of a website that housed the leaked personal information.
The information was collected using technology that is used to sign patrons into clubs and check their identities.