In Australia, a mother-daughter duo, who had been deceiving people under the guise of fortune-telling and feng shui consultancy, were discovered to be part of a multi-million dollar fraud chain. It was noted that the majority of their victims were financially struggling Vietnamese individuals. The pair were apprehended by police in Dover Heights, one of Sydney's most luxurious districts.
During the operation, assets worth over a million dollars were seized.
According to the police, the 53-year-old woman targeted individuals facing financial difficulties during her fortune-telling sessions. She would tell her victims that 'a billionaire will soon come to your aid,' and claimed that in order for this to happen more quickly, they needed to take out loans. It was reported that a portion of these loans was then directly transferred to her.
It was conveyed that the woman was known as a trustworthy figure within the community, which made it easier for her victims to believe her. Alongside fortune-telling, she also used the persona of a 'feng shui master' to manipulate her victims. The police revealed that the majority of her victims were vulnerable members of the Vietnamese community.
During a morning operation at the million-dollar mansion in Dover Heights, a substantial amount of evidence was uncovered. Financial documents, mobile phones, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar valued at A$10,000, and casino chips amounting to A$6,600 were seized. Moreover, assets worth 15 million dollars under the control of the duo were frozen. This figure is in addition to the 60 million dollars frozen during last year's investigation.
The mother faces a total of 39 charges. Among the accusations are leading a criminal organization and obtaining financial gain through deception. It has been reported that her daughter will stand trial for seven separate offenses and is accused of involvement in money laundering activities. While the mother is being held in custody for trial, the decision was made to release the daughter on bail.