A self-proclaimed fortune teller and her assistant have been charged with duping vulnerable clients of tens of millions of dollars in a highly sophisticated fraud and money-laundering syndicate.
A 53-year-old and a 25-year-old were arrested at a home in Dover Heights in Sydney's east on Wednesday morning when specialist police raided the property.
The older woman, who claimed to be a feng shui master and fortune teller, allegedly exploited vulnerable clients by persuading them to take out financial loans based on predicting there was a "billionaire" in their future, while taking a share for herself.
The fraud, allegedly orchestrated by the older woman with help from the younger woman, is estimated to total nearly $70 million.
Police seized financial documents, mobile phones, other electronics, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar worth $10,000 and $6600 in casino chips.
The NSW Crime Commission froze an additional $15 million worth of assets, bringing the total amount of assets linked to the syndicate seized to $75 million.
The older woman has been charged with 39 offences, including knowingly direct activities of criminal group, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal and deal with identity info to commit indictable offence.
The younger woman was charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, deal with identity info to commit indictable offence, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
Financial crime detectives launched an investigation in January 2024 into a criminal syndicate targeting Sydney automotive financing companies under Strike Force Myddleton.
The syndicate was initially found to have been allegedly using stolen personal information to apply for loans through financial companies to purchase luxury "ghost cars" that did not exist.
Further investigations revealed the alleged offending also involved large-scale personal, business and home loan fraud against multiple financial institutions.
The two arrested women were allegedly identified as intrinsically involved with the syndicate, while 17 people have previously been charged under Strike Force Myddleton and remain before the courts, with $60 million in assets having been restrained.
Detectives have worked tirelessly to uncover a network that has targeted financial institutions and manipulated vulnerable people for personal gain, Financial Crimes Squad Commander Gordon Arbinja said.
"What began as an investigation into fraudulent car financing has expanded into uncovering one of the most sophisticated financial crime syndicates I have seen in my career at the helm of the Financial Crimes Squad," Detective Superintendent Arbinja said.
NSW Crime Commission Executive Director Darren Bennett said restitution is a priority as it helps restore confidence and return value to the people of NSW.
The fortune teller was refused bail and will appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, while her helper was bailed to appear on January 23, 2026.
