Australian police have charged a woman and her daughter over an alleged scheme that defrauded almost $46 million from people of Vietnamese descent, as reported by the BBC. The charges were made following an ongoing investigation leading up to their arrest.
The 53-year-old mother, who claimed to be a fortune teller and feng shui master, was arrested alongside her 25-year-old daughter at their home in Dover Heights, Sydney. Police say both women were part of what they describe as a «highly sophisticated» fraud and money laundering syndicate.
Investigators allege that the mother convinced people in financial hardship to take out loans by claiming she had foreseen a «billionaire» who would help them, while keeping a portion of the borrowed funds for herself.
As a result of the investigation, she currently faces 39 charges, including directing a criminal group and obtaining financial advantage by deception. She was refused bail. Her daughter, facing seven charges including dealing with proceeds of crime, was granted bail and is scheduled for a court date in January.
During the arrests, police seized financial documents, mobile phones, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar and casino chips. The so-called Penthouse Syndicate, which the pair allegedly were part of, may also be involved in defrauding major Australian banks. According to police, criminals managed to do so with the alleged help of corrupt bank staff.
Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, fortune tellers’ services remain popular among businessmen and even politicians. According to official data, their revenue has increased each year. In contrast, Tajik authorities have launched a crackdown aimed at wiping out this type of business, using measures such as fines and even imprisonment.
