Loucas Louca: Alleged Camberwell fake gold dealer scammed Mallacoota bushfire victim

A heartless fake gold dealer who allegedly scammed almost $140,000 from a bushfire victim lived the high life with escorts and fine dining, a court heard.

A Camberwell man has fronted court after allegedly running a gold bullion scam which saw him fleece almost $140,000 from a Mallacoota bushfire victim. Picture: iStock

A heartless fake gold dealer who allegedly scammed almost $140,000 from a Mallacoota bushfire victim blew his dirty money on escorts and fine dining, a court has heard.

Loucas Louca, 67, fronted the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday facing fraud and identity theft-related charges over the shocking alleged scam which saw him allegedly flee to Queensland in a race from police.

Louca was allegedly busted with dozens of fake gold bullion, $38,000 cash, multiple phones and laptops and piles of debit cards, fake IDs and documents in his Camberwell home in July following a police investigation into online counterfeit gold trading, the court heard.

Louca was bailed before police were tipped off to further alleged scams involving a number of victims in September, with officers allegedly uncovering more fake gold and cash in a second raid.

Investigators discovered Louca had allegedly sucked close to $140,000 from a Mallacoota bushfire victim who was looking to invest in gold after losing his home, the court heard.

“ (Louca) empathised with the victim and sold the counterfeit gold under an assumed identity, knowing the money was being used to build a new house,” the prosecution said.

Louca was again bailed with strict conditions to remain in Victoria but his freedom was cut short when he was allegedly pulled over by police in Brisbane in March, the court heard.

Police alerted Victorian authorities, with an “uncooperative” Louca allegedly telling officers he had been staying in Queensland for “two weeks” to look after his sick mother.

Louca’s lawyer Liliana Dubroja told the court Louca “was unaware” a static Victorian address was part of his bail conditions.

But prosecutor Harry Lewis said Louca had knowingly signed his bail conditions twice, made plans to move his personal belongings from Camberwell and had plans to buy a house in Surfers Paradise.

Mr Harry Lewis said Louca was living an “extravagant” lifestyle and had been living in Queensland for more than a fortnight, regularly dining at high-end restaurants and splashing up to $500 on “arrangements” with women as well as luxury hotel rooms.

“He’s a pensioner living a lifestyle above his income … he is a cunning fraudster,” Mr Lewis said.

Mr Lewis referenced text messages allegedly set from Louca’s phone to a friend in which he claimed he would “take off” from authorities.

“F*** that I don’t care (about court date) … I will go to Sydney, f*** them,” he allegedly wrote in November 2020.

“I put two gold bars on eBay and they’ve gone crazy lol they will sell for $1750 each lol,” another alleged message read in November 2018.

Magistrate Ross Betts said Louca was a “serious flight risk”.

“He’s facing serious matters and he knows the consequences … he’s facing a very significant jail term,” he said.

“He had a cavalier attitude toward his bail conditions … I have no faith he’s going to apply with more bail conditions at all.”

Louca, who appeared via video link from Port Phillip Prison, was denied bail and remanded to return on June 25.