A Sydney woman used online dating services to fleece lovelorn older men
of their life-savings and then splurged the cash on a new house, luxury cars
and plastic surgery, police alleged. The 39-year-old single mother of four; was
arrested at home in Miller, Southwest Sydney, on Thursday and charged with
several counts of fraud and money laundering.
It is alleged she used website
dating services to strike up relationships with four men aged in the 60s and
70s. She then allegedly used sob stories, including about sick or dying
relatives, funeral expenses and bank fees to persuade the men to part with huge
amounts of cash. One man transferred her $1.9 million. The other three alleged
victims, including an interstate businessman who is said to have spent time
with the woman at a north shore apartment, paid her $190,000, $58,000, and
$12,000 respectively. The 39-year-old Sydney mother was
arrested by police this morning. She blew the cash living the high life, police
alleged. "I will describe it as an
extravagant lifestyle," Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis told
AAP. The woman acted alone and ran the alleged scam between 2008 and the day
she was arrested.
Detective Superintendent
Katsogiannis said the woman may have had more victims and urged anyone who felt
they had been conned to come forward. He also expressed hope that the alleged victims would get some of their
money back after sports cars and other items were seized from the woman's
house. Police also froze more than $1 million
in cash and assets linked to the woman. The woman was granted bail and is due to appear at Liverpool Local Court
on June 25.
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