Alleged fraud syndicates already targeted by police hit again in raids across the Coast
TWO major Gold Coast fraud syndicates continued ripping off unsuspecting people despite being raided late last year, allege police, who yesterday pounced for the second time.
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TWO major Gold Coast fraud syndicates continued ripping off unsuspecting people despite being raided late last year, allege police, who yesterday pounced for the second time.
Officers from the police fraud and cyber crime group arrested and charged 41-year-old Daniel Seymour with major fraud offences early yesterday in the first of several raids across the Gold Coast.
Mr Seymour is the alleged principal of cold call investment fraud and sports arbitrage syndicate, Charterhurst Agencies.
The arrest at Mr Seymour’s Clear Island Waters mansion cames after police charged a father and son — two other alleged Charterhurst principals — in October last year.
“We are aware of $59 million in a six-year period going into that organisation and $58 million being withdrawn,” said acting Detective Superintendent, Terry Lawrence.
“There are some substantial gains being made.
“At this stage we have 37 complainants and more to be located.
“We are going to allege that the people are using the cash for their own lifestyles and to buy mansions, vehicles, boats, whatever it might be and, of course, they look after other people in those syndicates.”
Police allege Charterhurst had changed its name since the raids last year and was linked with another alleged fraud syndicate operating at 128 Bundall Road, Bundall.
After Mr Seymour was arrested, police also executed a search warrant at an office on 130 Bundall Road, believed to be another arm of the TRP cold call investment fraud and sports arbitrage syndicate.
Police first raided an office believed to be TRP at 50 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise in October last year but acting Det Supt Lawrence said it seemed the syndicate had continued to operate at the Bundall office since police became involved about three months ago.
He said the Gold Coast seemed to be an attractive location for cold call-type scams.
“This is three cases. They’ve been going since 2015 and they will go for a little while longer simply due to the size and nature of them and we’ve got more investigations happening as well,” he said.
“(The Gold Coast has) got everything you need … it’s a great location.
“The reality is, that’s where this has been for a little while now — down on the Gold Coast.
“Most people know of each other … it’s going to be nice and easy to remain in the same area.”
The Australian Taxation Office was involved in police investigations this week and acting Det Supt Lawrence urged Gold Coasters to educate themselves about potential frauds and to contact police if they had information or had been scammed by one of the syndicates.
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