- By Shivangi Sharma
- Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Police in Sydney have uncovered one of Australia’s largest financial crime operations, arresting a self-proclaimed fortune teller and her daughter accused of defrauding victims of millions through a complex “Ghost Car” scam.
The 53-year-old woman and her 25-year-old daughter were detained during a dawn raid on their luxury mansion in Dover Heights on Wednesday. Inside, police discovered financial documents, luxury handbags, electronics, a 40-gram gold bar valued at USD 6,500, and USD 4,356 in casino chips.
According to investigators, the mother posed as a Feng Shui master and fortune teller who exploited vulnerable clients, mainly within the Vietnamese community. She allegedly told her victims that she foresaw a “billionaire” in their future and persuaded them to take out large loans, from which she pocketed significant sums.
Fortune-Telling Front For Financial Fraud
The woman faces 39 charges, including directing a criminal group and obtaining financial advantage by deception. Police say she made over USD 1.5 million from at least ten loans. Her daughter faces seven charges, including participating in a criminal group and recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime. While the mother was denied bail, the daughter was released and is set to appear in court in January.
Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja from the Financial Crimes Squad revealed that the mother even convinced her daughter to buy a USD 5.3 million apartment in Rose Bay with money obtained from victims.
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The “Ghost Car” Syndicate Connection
The arrests are part of Strike Force Myddleton, a major police operation launched in 2024 to investigate a “Ghost Car” scam targeting Sydney’s automotive financing industry. The syndicate allegedly used stolen identities to secure loans for luxury vehicles that did not exist.
Detectives later discovered the operation extended far beyond car financing, involving large-scale fraud across personal, business, and home loans. So far, 17 individuals have been arrested, and assets worth nearly A$60 million have been seized, including newly frozen assets estimated at A$15 million.
“What began as an investigation into fraudulent car financing has expanded into one of the most sophisticated financial crime syndicates I’ve seen in my career,” Arbinja said.
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