Sydney Fortune Teller and Daughter Charged in $70M Feng Shui Scam

Sydney, Australia — A mother-and-daughter duo from Sydney, claiming to be a fortune teller and feng shui master, have been charged in connection with an alleged A$70 million ($46 million) fraud targeting vulnerable Vietnamese individuals across Australia.

The 53-year-old mother and her 25-year-old daughter were arrested during a dramatic early-morning raid at their luxury Dover Heights mansion on Wednesday. Police described the pair as key figures in a “highly sophisticated” financial crime and money laundering syndicate.

Authorities allege the mother manipulated victims by claiming she foresaw a “billionaire benefactor” in their future. To make the prophecy come true, victims were reportedly urged to take out loans—money that the mother would then keep a portion of for herself.

During the arrest, investigators seized financial documents, mobile phones, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar worth A$10,000, and A$6,600 in casino chips. Police also froze around A$15 million in assets, in addition to A$60 million previously seized during the ongoing probe.

The mother faces 39 charges, including directing a criminal group and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. She was denied bail and is set to appear in court on Thursday. Her daughter, charged with seven offences including dealing with proceeds of crime, was granted bail and is scheduled to appear in court in January.

Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, commander of the Financial Crimes Squad, called the operation one of the most complex financial investigations in his career. “What began as an inquiry into fraudulent car financing has uncovered one of the most sophisticated financial crime syndicates ever seen in Australia,” he said.

The syndicate, allegedly known as the “Penthouse Syndicate,” is accused of using stolen identities to secure fake loans for luxury cars that never existed—so-called “ghost cars.” Police believe the group’s fraudulent activities extended to large-scale business, personal, and home loan scams involving multiple banks, with help from corrupt insiders.

Reports indicate that the alleged ringleader lived in an A$18 million Sydney penthouse and used fraudulent funds to acquire multiple properties across the city.

More than a dozen individuals have already been arrested in the wider investigation, charged with various counts of fraud and money laundering. Authorities say further arrests are expected, focusing on “professional facilitators” — including lawyers, accountants, and property developers — suspected of assisting the criminal network.

As the investigation continues, police have urged the public to remain cautious of individuals making spiritual or financial promises linked to wealth, emphasizing that the syndicate preyed on the trust and vulnerability of its victims.