Two women and a man have been charged over an elaborate romance scam that allegedly targeted elderly single men looking for love.
Police allege a 52-year-old Benowa woman, her 29-year-old daughter, and a 52-year-old Mermaid Beach man, defrauded three men of almost half a million dollars between June 2022 and February 2023.
It’s understood two men in their 70s responded to a personal advertisement in a newspaper before they engaged in what they thought was a paid dating service.
“It is alleged they made payments and were put in contact with a woman who claimed to be a widow in her 50s,” Queensland Police said.
“From there, it is alleged the woman claimed she required large payments to get out of a work contract.”
One of the men, from Toowoomba, lost approximately $42,000.
While the second man, from the Cassowary Coast region, lost a total of $343,500.
After the woman ceased contact, the men came to the realisation that it may be a scam, and both reported the matter to police in February and March this year.
Following investigations, detectives executed search warrants at two homes in Benowa on July 25, where two women were taken into custody.
A third search warrant was also executed at a Mermaid Beach property.
“It will be alleged at one of the Benowa properties, $79,200 in cash was located hidden within pillows in a bedroom,” police said.
During the raids, police uncovered further evidence that led detectives to locate a third victim, a man in his 50s from Western Australia, who was also allegedly defrauded of more than $111,000.
The 52-year-old woman has been charged with five counts of fraud and one count each of receiving tainted property, possessing tainting property and contravening an order about access to information stored electronically.
The 29-year-old woman has been charged with five counts of fraud, while the 52-year-old man has been charged with four counts of fraud
The women are expected to next have their matters heard before the Southport Magistrates Court on October 3, while the man will have his case heard on September 18.
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Investigations into the alleged fraudulent dating service are ongoing, with detectives urging anyone with information to come forward.
“Anyone at any stage in life can be vulnerable to scams and while it is confronting and upsetting, we ask victims to come forward, seek support and report what has happened to ReportCyber or to police,” Detective Sergeant Matthew Hogan said.
“This will help ensure it can be investigated, alleged offenders put before the court and that others in the community can be reminded of the warning signs.
“To defraud any person is horrible, but to specifically seek out mature people who may be vulnerable, it’s cruel and QPS will investigate all matters, until alleged offenders are before the court and support is provided to those victims.
“We urge anyone who has information which could assist in investigating fraudulent activity, to come forward,” Detective Sergeant Hogan said.
