It was New Year’s Eve when the email hit the inboxes of numerous friends of David Hunter Campbell, many of them living in the well-to-do enclaves nestled around Clontarf and its beachy environs on Sydney’s north shore.

Sent by Campbell’s wife, Cassandra Campbell, the email was direct but hard to absorb. “I am totally devastated to have to tell you that David has informed his solicitor that there is likely to be a shortfall of funds within his trading business that you have invested money in,” she wrote.