Alleged fraudster Luka Matak accused over $45,000 diamond ring

A Whatsapp chat has revealed allegations that Sydney man Luka Matak, who is in custody with his wife Andriana, failed to pay for a $45k ring. See the messages.

Luka Matak and wife Adriana, both formerly of Sydney, are being held in the Croatian capital Zagreb. Picture: www.adrianakupresak.com

Alleged Australian fraudster Luka Matak has been accused of failing to pay a London jeweller $45,000 for a diamond ring he gave to his wife, Adriana.

In WhatsApp chat logs obtained by News Corp, the jeweller complains that Mr Matak bought the ring in May 2021 but by the end of the year had paid off just $5800 despite agreeing to make weekly payments to clear the debt.

Mr Matak, 31, and Mrs Matak, 36, have been arrested in Croatia and are being held in prison amid an investigation into allegations they defrauded people there of 350,000 euros ($587,000). They have not been charged.

Sources who entrusted their money to Mr Matak say the total invested with the former Sydney barman and self-described “hedge fund manager” by people from Croatia, Britain and Australia is likely to be closer to $4.9m.

Other WhatsApp chats show Mr Matak citing rising oil prices and Joe Biden’s US stimulus bill to cajole extra money from a British investor in mid-2021.

Australian man Luka Matak, who has been arrested in Croatia over fraud allegations. Source: Supplied.

Australian man Luka Matak, who has been arrested in Croatia over fraud allegations. Source: Supplied.

“The more you give me – the more I can make for you,” Mr Matak said in one message.

However, by the end of the year the investor was furious with Mr Matak, who he accused of failing to return his £100,000 ($194,000) as promised.

“While you are swanning around spending other people’s money, remember your actions and total lack of decency as a man are affecting the lives of others,” the investor told Matak in a December 13, 2021, WhatsApp message.

Meanwhile, the WhatsApp chats show that by December 30, 2021, the jeweller was demanding security from Mr Matak “to be forfeited in the event of a default or further delays” in payment of the £23,000 bill for the ring.

“You have a watch or a Hermes handbag which I will be prepared to take from you,” the jeweller said.

“We are going backwards in repayments when I am looking for much larger sums.”

Adriana Matak and husband Luka Matak. Picture: www.adrianakupresak.com

In response, Mr Matak said that several weeks earlier he agreed to “make varying weekly payments until I am able to pay off the outstanding balance in full, which I have been doing every week and will continue to do so until I am able to pay the outstanding balance in full.

“The fact you would suggest I’d default and turn my back after the discussion we had a few weeks ago is highly insulting.”

A second, earlier set of WhatsApp chats depict a blossoming friendship between Mr Matak and the London-based investor.

“Happy Birthday mate! Wishing you a fantastic day filled with celebrations and lots (of) hanky panky,” he said in one 2021 message.

Mrs Matak is a travel blogger.

Mr Matak shared pictures of his life of luxury with the investor, including a selfie with a cigar in his mouth on the beach outside the Atlantis hotel on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah island.

He also sent the investor images of his life in Croatia, including a video of Mrs Matak waving at an outdoor restaurant.

The investor and his girlfriend “both should head down to Croatia sometime this summer”, Mr Matak said in a June 2021 WhatsApp message.

Mr Matak reassured the investor when he became concerned that oil prices were “dropping like a stone” in July 2021.

Asked if he was concerned, Mr Matak responded: “Hey mate, not at all – I got out of all our oil positions about 2 weeks ago and slid it into other assets so we are safe.”

The Mataks pose for the camera.

But by December 13, 2021, the investor ran out of patience, accusing Mr Matak of failing to meet a deadline of November 25 to pay back his money.

“As you can imagine, I’m extremely angry that I’m having to deal with this situation you have created, now on a personal level as well as financial,” the investor told Mr Matak.

“Message me any updates and I suggest you have ALL my money paid back and put a stop to this situation before I escalate this to the next level.”

In response, Mr Matak said that “sending messages like the one you just did are highly inflammatory, counter-productive and do nothing to help the situation (which I am trying to rectify)”.

The investor has told News Corp he reported Mr Matak to British police.

Mr Matak’s London lawyer, Sheikh Najam, did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as Alleged fraudster Luka Matak accused over $45,000 diamond ring