SYDNEY – A self-proclaimed fortune teller and her assistant have been charged with defrauding vulnerable clients of tens of millions of dollars in a sophisticated money-laundering and fraud operation. Police arrested the 53-year-old woman and her 25-year-old assistant at a home in Dover Heights on Wednesday morning following a targeted raid.
The older woman, who claimed to be a feng shui master, allegedly convinced clients to take out large financial loans by predicting they would inherit a fortune from a “billionaire” in their future, keeping a portion of the proceeds for herself. Authorities estimate the total fraud at nearly $70 million.
During the raid, police seized financial documents, electronics, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar worth $10,000, and $6,600 in casino chips. The NSW Crime Commission also froze $15 million in additional assets, bringing the total value of seized assets to $75 million.
The 53-year-old faces 39 charges, including directing a criminal group, obtaining financial advantage by deception, and dealing with proceeds of crime. Her 25-year-old assistant has been charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception, using identity information to commit an indictable offence, and contributing to criminal activity.
Authorities have warned the public to remain vigilant against similar scams, emphasizing that criminal networks often exploit trust and superstition to defraud unsuspecting individuals.