Forgery, stealing – Melissa Caddick’s crimes began long before her $23million scam and disappearance

Missing conwoman Melissa Caddick had a decades-long history of fraud and dishonesty, somehow evading consequences for her crimes every time.

With charm, designer handbags and a silver tongue she was able to fool friends, family, and even her mother and rob them blind.

Her first known swindle was petty embezzlement in 1998, and worked up to $23 million in vanished investments – which finally did her in.

On November 11, 2020, investigators from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission raided her $6.8million home in Dover Heights after she was found to be operating a financial services business without a valid licence.

It was the last night she was seen alive.  

Caddick disappeared for three months and was presumed to be on the run, until a rotting foot washed up on a beach on the NSW south coast, prompting police to declare her dead. 

Melissa Caddick with her first husband Andrew Caddick – whom she tried to prevent seeing their son and lied about cheating on her, when she had cheated on him, with Anthony Koletti

Caddick vanished the day after corporate watchdog ASIC raided her luxury $6.1million home in Dover Heights, Sydney, on November 11 last year. Pictured: the ASIC raid

Caddick vanished the day after corporate watchdog ASIC raided her luxury $6.1million home in Dover Heights, Sydney, on November 11 last year. Pictured: the ASIC raid

Her crime was a Ponzi scheme involving 60 friends and family, totaling $30 million – only $7 million of which was ever repayed. The rest vanished.

But her history as a serial thief and fraudster goes back decades, beginning in 1998, before her either of her marriages.

Then 27, she forged her boss’s signature on four cheques only six months into a job at a small Sydney investment firm.

She was caught before too long, but allowed to resign and leave immediately without the police being called, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Caddick, then known as Melissa Grimley, was 27 years old and didn’t even have to repay the $2,000 she’d stolen.

Creating an impression of success became an essential part of the conwoman’s modus operandi.

Her immaculate presentation was designed to ensure people saw her as professional and overlooked her habitual dishonesty.

Out of school she did a business and secretarial course at St Patrick’s College Australia in Sydney, where she learned the importance of talking herself up.

Caddick in one of the last known photos of her - when she turned up to a friend's 50th birthday wearing a $2500 Dolce & Gabbana dress. The friend claimed she had scammed everyone at the party

Caddick in one of the last known photos of her – when she turned up to a friend’s 50th birthday wearing a $2500 Dolce & Gabbana dress. The friend claimed she had scammed everyone at the party

Caddick's decomposed foot in a rare Asics shoe was found 400km away from her home on Bournda Beach on February 21

Caddick’s decomposed foot in a rare Asics shoe was found 400km away from her home on Bournda Beach on February 21 

In her first job at NRMA, Grimley would become angry if anyone referred to her as a secretary 

‘Her manicured presentation seemed suited to a job she aspired to, rather than the job she had,’ a former boss said.

Looking back, old friends recounted her basic dishonesty. 

‘We’d be at dinner and she would say “that’s a beautiful butter knife” and she’d steal it,’ one old friend said.

She admitted an attractive pair of salt and pepper shakers at her home were stolen from a restaurant in Paddington. 

The childhood friend remembered that in her early 20s Grimley suffered a breakdown after being the victim of a conman who stole from her family and eventually her – maxing out her credit cards and doing a runner.

She refused to believe the man was a con artist and ran away with him, only to end up broke and emotionally devastated.

Melissa Caddick learned early about the importance of presenting the appearance of success - and it apepars to have been a part of her modus operandi, allowing her to convince unwitting victims to 'invest' with her - only for her to keep most of the money. She is pictured with husband Anthony Koletti - who is not suspected of any wrongdoing

Melissa Caddick learned early about the importance of presenting the appearance of success – and it apepars to have been a part of her modus operandi, allowing her to convince unwitting victims to ‘invest’ with her – only for her to keep most of the money. She is pictured with husband Anthony Koletti – who is not suspected of any wrongdoing

Mr Koletti, whose son Anthony (left) was married to Caddick (right) for seven years, said the couple were 'happily married'

It was claimed Anthony Koletti and Melissa Caddick began an affair in France while she was still married to Andrew Caddick  

The south coast beach where Caddick's foot was found is more than 400km from where she was last seen at her lavish Dover Heights home (pictured) in Sydney

The south coast beach where Caddick’s foot was found is more than 400km from where she was last seen at her lavish Dover Heights home (pictured) in Sydney

After being sacked from the investment firm for forging checks, Grimley married an English builder’s labourer – Andrew Caddick – and had a baby with him. 

She bought a share of successful financial planning business, Wise Financial, and appeared to have a bright future in her 30s.

But Caddick tearfully quit, disillusioned that she was not allowed to sidestep ethics rules that barred planners from directly recommending property and shares for clients.

She spun a series of lies about receiving huge payouts from the company – one for a an $86 million business deal she made up and another for a sexual harassment case that never happened. 

Her marriage fell apart in the UK after she was caught cheating in Paris – with her current husband, Anthony Koletti – while she had claimed to be on a business course in Switzerland.

Again, she lied about what happened, claiming Andrew abused her, cheated on her, and lied about his job.

A lack of credible witnesses and an absence of CCTV footage means the glamorous conwoman's disappearance may never be solved

A lack of credible witnesses and an absence of CCTV footage means the glamorous conwoman’s disappearance may never be solved

Missing conwoman Melissa Caddick's many victims included her mother and father Barb and Ted Grimley. She is believed to have stolen $23million from 60 clients - many of whom were family and close friends

Missing conwoman Melissa Caddick’s many victims included her mother and father Barb and Ted Grimley. She is believed to have stolen $23million from 60 clients – many of whom were family and close friends

When he moved to Sydney to be closer to his son, who was with his mother, Caddick unsuccessfully tried to block him from having access.

A confused Andrew Caddick heard stories from his son that he flew first class and on private jets and wondered where the money came from. 

Caddick’s combination of dishonesty and using impressions to get money out of people came together in the many scams she ran in her own company Maliver – collecting $30 million over eight years.

The Ponzi scheme began soon after she arrived back in Australia from the UK in 2012. 

It was common for her to tell interested clients who approached her that she was too busy to help them – then later tell them they were in luck, somehow finding time for their business.

The brochure she handed out for Maliver lied about her credentials as she was not a certified financial planner and did not have a masters of business.

The business operated using someone else’s Australian financial services Llcence – a life insurance broker who she insured herself with.

Melissa Caddick during a business meeting while she ran her fraudulent investment company, Maliver

Melissa Caddick during a business meeting while she ran her fraudulent investment company, Maliver

Sydney conwoman Melissa Caddick (pictured with her husband Anthony Koletti) allegedly defrauded more than $25million from scores of investors

Sydney conwoman Melissa Caddick (pictured with her husband Anthony Koletti) allegedly defrauded more than $25million from scores of investors. He is not accused of any wrongdoing

Once she had their money, she created a fake CommSec share trading account for each client. 

Where she needed to, she forged not only clients’ signatures but also that of the nearest available justice of the peace – her father-in-law Rodo Koletti.

She emailed clients a fake monthly report claiming stunning returns of up to 30 per cent, which convinced them to invest more with her, and to get her more word-of-mouth business.

Caddick’s pool of victims began with family and friends – many of whom lost their life savings – and expand from there.

She scammed her parents Barb and Ted Grimley, brother Adam, her uncles, aunts and cousins. 

She stole from childhood friends and their families, her personal trainer, her employees and surgeons in Perth, introduced by a friend of her brother.

Liquidators say the mother-of-one 'meticulously and systematically' deceived those who entrusted millions of investment dollars to her over seven years, then used the money to fund her lavish lifestyle

Liquidators say the mother-of-one ‘meticulously and systematically’ deceived those who entrusted millions of investment dollars to her over seven years, then used the money to fund her lavish lifestyle

The cliffs at Dover Heights, near her luxury home, where ASIC raided her in November 2020

The cliffs at Dover Heights, near her luxury home, where ASIC raided her in November 2020

One woman, a childhood friend whose 50th birthday Caddick attended in a $2,500 designer Dolce & Gabbana dress a month before her disappearance, claimed the fraudster stole $10 million from her family.

‘Looking back, she was ripping off everyone at my party. Every single member of my family plus another couple I had invited,’ the woman said.

When ASIC investigators raided Caddick in November, they confiscated dozens of expensive designer label dresses, handbags, and shoes. 

Her scams began to unravel when a client did due diligence on documents provided to them and the woman whose Australian financial services licence she used notified ASIC – which is believed to have been November 2019.

ASIC recorded the complaint but took no action at that time.

Another complaint in June 2020 contained more detail and ASIC applied to the Federal Court to freeze her assets and seize her passport. 

ASIC raided her home five months later, and Caddick promptly disappeared to permanently evade justice.

Melissa Caddick’s father-in-law says there are still three questions about the fraudster’s disappearance he wants answered before he accepts she’s dead – and reveals what he REALLY thinks about his hairdresser son 

By Alana Mazzoni and Tita Smith for Daily Mail Australia

Melissa Caddick’s father-in-law said he won’t accept the conwoman is dead until three crucial questions about her mysterious disappearance are answered. 

Caddick, who allegedly defrauded more than $25million from scores of investors including friends and family, vanished the day after corporate watchdog ASIC raided her luxury $6.1million home in Dover Heights, Sydney, on November 11 last year. 

A foot washed ashore three months later on the NSW south coast and was confirmed to be Caddick’s after a DNA match was made, however police have been hesitant to confirm the missing conwoman is actually dead.

The 49-year-old’s father-in-law, tax agent Rodo Koletti, has been probed by police who are preparing a statement for the coroner. 

When asked by officers if he believed Caddick was dead, Mr Koletti responded: ‘I do not feel police have to date provided enough information for me to form an opinion one way or the other if Melissa is dead.

‘How much of the mysterious foot was found in the shoe, how was it severed, how do they explain that forensic scientists stated that it was unlikely the shoe had been in the ocean for less than two weeks?’ 

Caddick, pictured with her husband Anthony who is not accused of wrongdoing

Caddick, pictured with her husband Anthony who is not accused of wrongdoing

Mr Koletti, whose son Anthony was married to Caddick for seven years, said the couple were ‘happily married’.

He also said his son didn’t have any business prowess, and wouldn’t have been aware of his wife’s alleged fraudulence.

‘Even if Melissa’s business documents were sitting on the kitchen table in front of Anthony he would not know what he was looking at. He doesn‘t have the business capacity to know what a financial scheme is,’ Mr Koletti told The Daily Telegraph.  

Anthony and Caddick’s son are still living in her Dover Heights mansion, which could soon be seized pending a federal court decision, to be sold to help repay her alleged victims.  

ASIC is also seeking the Edgecliff penthouse where Caddick’s parents live, which is under the fraudster’s name. 

ASIC dropped all charges against Caddick and has withdrawn the warrant for her arrest.  

The commission would not reveal whether this is confirmation that Caddick is definitely dead.

‘It is not for ASIC to determine if, or speculate on whether, Ms Caddick is alive. That is a matter for the NSW Police and – should it come to that – a coroner,’ a spokesman previously said.

Liquidators say the mother-of-one ‘meticulously and systematically’ deceived those who entrusted millions of investment dollars to her over seven years, then used the money to fund her lavish lifestyle. 

Caddick blew her victims’ money on luxury items and overseas trips with the authorities confiscating high end fashion label handbags, shoes and clothes during the raid.

A lack of credible witnesses and an absence of CCTV footage means her disappearance may never be solved.

Two forensic experts have raised a theory that Caddick may have died elsewhere before being moved closer to Bournda beach, where her foot and trainer were discovered

Two forensic experts have raised a theory that Caddick may have died elsewhere before being moved closer to Bournda beach, where her foot and trainer were discovered

More than 50 possible sightings were reported to NSW Police in the weeks after her disappearance but none were solid leads. 

Two forensic experts have raised a theory that Caddick may have died elsewhere before being moved closer to Bournda beach, where her foot and trainer were discovered.

The south coast beach is more than 400km from where Caddick was last seen at her lavish Dover Heights home in Sydney.

‘That is remarkable but it can happen,’ said Professor John Hilton, a forensic pathologist said.

Earlier this month, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said authorities were unable to say whether she killed herself or if there was foul play involved.

He also raised the possibility Ms Caddick could have severed her own foot to throw police off the scent – and that she could still be alive.

‘There’s always a chance she cut her foot off and is still alive, though it’s pretty fanciful,’ he told 2GB on March 8. 

One theory to explain her disappearance has been that Caddick jumped from the Dover Heights clifftops after making the short 300m walk from her home. 

The route is not covered by CCTV cameras and led police to initially suspect she had taken her own life.

But Mr Fuller said many people jumped from those cliffs without their remains washing up several hundred kilometers away.

Caddick blew her victims' money on luxury items and overseas trips with the authorities confiscating high end fashion label handbags, shoes and clothes during the raid. Pictured with husband Anthony Koletti

Caddick blew her victims’ money on luxury items and overseas trips with the authorities confiscating high end fashion label handbags, shoes and clothes during the raid. Pictured with husband Anthony Koletti 

‘[It’s not common to see] body parts wash up so far south of Sydney and in such good condition given she went missing on or about November 11,’ he said.

‘Not to say it can’t happen. The coroner will make further determinations.’

He said the limited decomposition of the shoe would indicate it had not been out in the ocean for the entire three-month period since she went missing.

Earlier this month Caddick was farewelled in a private service with only a handful of mourners in attendance.

Caddick’s husband, her parents Barbara and Ted Grimley, and her brother Adam Grimley gathered with friends at the West Chapel, in Matraville, on April 6 to say their goodbyes. 

Anthony led the procession out of the chapel alongside the funeral director, who helped him carry a bouquet of flowers to put in the boot of his black Mercedes, as the Grimleys followed behind.   

Although a death certificate is yet to be obtained, her foot has been cremated.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk