Fortune Teller and Daughter Arrested in $70M Scam in Sydney

Sydney, Australia — In a dramatic turn of events, a mother and daughter duo, both claiming to be a fortune teller and feng shui master, have been charged in a shocking A$70 million ($46 million) fraud scheme targeting vulnerable Vietnamese individuals throughout Australia.

The mother, 53, along with her 25-year-old daughter, were taken into custody following a raid at their opulent Dover Heights residence early Wednesday morning. Police have identified the pair as central figures in a “highly sophisticated” financial crime syndicate engaged in money laundering.

Authorities assert that the mother deceived victims by prophesying the arrival of a “billionaire benefactor.” To make this vision a reality, victims were allegedly pressured into securing loans, a portion of which the mother would retain for herself.

Upon their arrest, law enforcement officials confiscated various items, including financial records, mobile devices, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar valued at A$10,000, and A$6,600 in casino chips. Additionally, around A$15 million in assets have been frozen, alongside A$60 million previously seized during the ongoing investigation.

The mother faces 39 charges, encompassing directing a criminal organization and fraudulently obtaining financial advantage through deception. Denied bail, she is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. The daughter, charged with seven offenses including handling proceeds of crime, was granted bail and is expected to appear in court in January.

Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, who heads the Financial Crimes Squad, labeled this operation as one of the most intricate financial investigations he has encountered. “Initially starting as an inquiry into fraudulent car financing, it has unveiled one of the most sophisticated financial crime syndicates ever documented in Australia,” he remarked.

The alleged “Penthouse Syndicate” is accused of leveraging stolen identities to obtain fictitious loans for non-existent luxury vehicles—dubbed “ghost cars.” Police suspect that their fraudulent endeavors also encompassed extensive business, personal, and home loan scams involving numerous banks, aided by corrupt insiders.

Reports indicate that the alleged leader resided in an A$18 million penthouse in Sydney, utilizing illicit funds to acquire multiple properties across the metropolis.

As a broader inquiry progresses, more than a dozen individuals have already faced arrest, charged with various fraud-related offenses and money laundering. Authorities anticipate additional apprehensions aimed at “professional facilitators”—including lawyers, accountants, and property developers—believed to have aided this criminal network.

As investigations continue, police are urging the public to exercise caution when approached by individuals making financial or spiritual promises related to wealth, stressing that the syndicate exploited the trust and vulnerabilities of its victims.