A mother-daughter duo in Sydney—one calling herself a fortune teller and feng shui master—have been charged in an alleged $70 million scam.
The scam targeted vulnerable Vietnamese-Australians.
Police say the 53-year-old mother and her 25-year-old daughter were part of a “highly sophisticated” money-laundering syndicate.
The mother allegedly convinced clients in financial distress to take out huge loans, claiming she foresaw a “billionaire benefactor” in their future.
Her so-called predictions, police say, came with a hefty price tag.
Luxury Crime Uncovered
During a dawn raid at their Dover Heights mansion, officers seized luxury handbags, a gold bar worth A$10,000, and casino chips.
They also seized stacks of financial documents.
She now faces 39 charges, including directing a criminal group and obtaining money by deception.
Her daughter faces seven, including dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja called the operation “one of the most sophisticated financial crime syndicates I’ve seen in my career.”
He revealed it stemmed from a probe into fraudulent car loans for “ghost vehicles.”
The case has since ballooned—authorities have frozen A$75 million in assets.
They have linked the pair to the so-called Penthouse Syndicate, accused of defrauding banks of up to A$250 million.
As one officer quipped, “They promised fortunes, all right—just not for anyone else.”
