New South Wales police have dismantled a sophisticated alleged money laundering syndicate, arresting a self-proclaimed fortune teller and feng shui master at the centre of a staggering $70 million fraud.
The Arrests and Allegations
Anya Phan, 54, and a 25-year-old woman were apprehended by officers at a property in Dover Heights, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Wednesday morning. Police allege that Phan, who targeted vulnerable members of the Vietnamese community, convinced clients to take out substantial financial loans based on her prediction that they had a 'billionaire' in their future. She then allegedly took a significant share of these acquired funds for herself.
Seized Assets and Charges Laid
During the arrests, investigators seized a trove of evidence including financial documents, mobile phones, electronics, and luxury handbags. More notably, they also confiscated a 40-gram gold bar worth an estimated $10,000 and $6,600 in casino chips. The NSW Crime Commission has additionally frozen assets valued at approximately $15 million as part of the ongoing probe.
Phan was taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with 39 offences. These serious charges include knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, 19 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and 13 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. She was refused bail and appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.
The younger co-accused was charged with two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime. She was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to face court in January.
Origins in a 'Ghost Car' Syndicate
The alleged fraud first came to light during Strike Force Myddleton, a police investigation launched in January 2024 into an automotive financing syndicate. That initial probe uncovered the use of stolen personal information to apply for loans to purchase non-existent luxury 'ghost cars'.
Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja of the financial crimes squad stated that the investigation rapidly expanded. "What began as an investigation into fraudulent car financing has expanded into uncovering one of the most [alleged] sophisticated financial crime syndicates I have seen in my career," he said. The syndicate's operations are alleged to have extended to large-scale personal, business, and home loan fraud against multiple financial institutions.
To date, 17 people have been charged under Strike Force Myddleton, with about $60 million in assets already restrained in relation to those earlier charges. Darren Bennett, Executive Director of the NSW Crime Commission, emphasised that "recovering assets is not just about punishment – it's about restoring confidence and returning value to the people of NSW."
