Two South-East Queensland men are facing hundreds of fraud charges over an alleged line dancing scam that police say swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from numerous people.
Bruce Jenkins, 67, and his son Brett Jenkins, 38, have each been charged with more than 200 fraud offences.
Police arrested the two men at a Sunshine Coast unit at Kings Beach yesterday, following public information.
Investigators had been searching for the men for more than a year.
It will be alleged the men organised fraudulent line dancing events, such as balls and cruises, with the holidays cancelled and no refunds provided.
Police said people would transfer money to Brett Jenkins Line Dancing to either compete in or attend social line dancing events and that most of the people who paid for the events were elderly.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ken Rogers said the alleged fraud could total more than $400,000 and he outlined the allegations police would be making in court.
"These two individuals worked at line dancing events, were involved in line dancing clubs, over a long period of time they've built up a trust and rapport with the members of those [in the] line dancing community," he said.
"It was set up in a way that the victims would pay the money to the two men on the pretence that they were then going to make all the bookings.
"The bookings never happened, they kept the money, the victims remained without any cash."
Detective Senior Sergeant Rogers said many people thought they were buying the "trip of a lifetime".
Police suspect most of the money paid for line dancing events had been spent on online gambling.
The matter was mentioned in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court today, but the accused were not present for the hearing.
No bail application was made and the case is due to be heard again in Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 26.
