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ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Alleged ringleaders behind defrauding banks for luxury cars, homes and business loans face almost 200 charges
Two alleged scam ringleaders accused of defrauding banks by duping them into lending money for luxury cars, homes and businesses have had $38 million in assets seized. Police allege the two men, aged 38 and 34, were at the head of a syndicate that began by using stolen identification to apply for loans to purchase luxury "ghost cars" that did not exist. Detectives from the NSW Police Financial Crimes Squad claim the men then went beyond cars, using the same method to secure business and home loans from banks. The men have been charged with a combined 194 offences related to fraud, money laundering and weapons possession. The 38-year-old Barangaroo man is accused of committed $12 million worth of fraud while police accuse the 34-year-old Seaforth man of committing $4 million worth of fraud. Investigations began in January 2024 when police started looking into what they described as a "highly sophisticated" money laundering scheme. In total police have now charged eight people and seized $38 million in assets from across Sydney. Among the millions in assets seized by police on Wednesday were two Bentleys, a Ferrari 360 and luxury watches. It came after sweeping dawn raids across Barangaroo, Seaworth, North Ryde, Macquarie Park, Sylvania Waters, Camperdown, Mortdale, Haymarket, Martin Place and the CBD. Images provided by NSW Police show a treasure trove of watches worth hundreds of thousands of dollars among foreign currency seized on Wednesday. Vision showed the bikie-busting Raptor Squad storming a luxury Barangaroo property before leading the 38-year-old out in a sparkly Louis Vuitton jacket. The same video showed police towing away a red Bentley SUV from Barangaroo. Photos depict the showroom where police seized a Ferrari, a Bentley and a slew of high-end luxury vehicles. The pair have been denied bail and are due to appear in the Downing Centre and Manly local courts on Thursday.
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
2 arrested in Hong Kong after victims lose HK$10 million in fake-official scams
Hong Kong police have arrested two men in connection with at least seven scam cases involving nearly HK$10 million of losses for victims duped by fake law-enforcement officials, with officers searching for a third suspect. Superintendent Li Muk-yik said on Saturday that the scammers had asked their accomplices to meet victims in hotels under the guise of conducting investigations and used different excuses to collect money from their targets. Li said officers arrested the two suspects – a Hongkonger, 19, and a mainland Chinese man, 25 – on Friday and Saturday and were looking for a third involved in the case. The two men are currently being held pending further investigation. 'This operation involved at least seven related scam cases all over Hong Kong, with nearly HK$10 million in funds lost in total,' Li said. 'In these seven cases, the victims were aged between 17 and 71 years, and were scammed by a syndicate and lost a large amount of money.' The victim with the biggest loss was conned out of more than HK$4.6 million in a few days, he added. Li said the methods used by the scammers were similar to previous cases, with victims first receiving a phone call.
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Terengganu housewife loses RM150,000 in staged hotel rating scam, case under probe
KUALA TERENGGANU, May 19 — A housewife lost more than RM150,000 after falling victim to a scam syndicate offering a non-existent job. Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the 30-year-old victim had come across an online job offer on social media on May 9 and expressed interest in the opportunity. He said the victim was instructed to make hotel room bookings using a link provided by the syndicate and was promised a 10 per cent commission based on the amount spent. 'The task was allegedly aimed at boosting hotel ratings. The victim was required to click the link, choose a hotel room, and submit photos and proof of payment after completing each task. 'Excited after receiving commission from the first task, the victim continued to carry out several more assignments, eventually transferring a total of RM158,498.89 in stages to nine different bank accounts,' he said in a statement today. Azli said the victim, who used her father's business capital, started to panic after the promised commission payments failed to materialise. Her attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful, prompting her to lodge a police report yesterday morning after realising she had been scammed. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. —Bernama
