Gucci shoes and Prada handbags seized as Thai woman charged over ‘$9million fraud syndicate’

Chanel, Prada handbags and Gucci, Louis Vuitton shoes worth thousands of dollars are seized as a Thai woman, 27, is charged over ‘$9million money-laundering syndicate’

  • Thai migrants allegedly targeted in rip-off scam across New South Wales 
  • Thai woman from Sydney charged over alleged $9 million fraud syndicate
  • Social media ‘remitter’ allegedly deceived, charged inflated exchange rates
  • Treasure trove of designer handbags, shoes, seized from South Strathfield 

A Thai woman has been charged over an alleged $9million fraud syndicate after police raids netted a trove of Gucci shoes and Prada handbags.

The woman was due to face Parramatta Bail Court in Sydney on Saturday over alleged involvement in a fraud and money-laundering syndicate that targeted Thai migrants across New South Wales.

The woman, 27, allegedly deceived people by charging them inflated rates to exchange money, using social media to advertise her services. 

Police raided a house and a unit at South Strathfield in Sydney’s inner west on Friday morning where they discovered a treasure trove of designer handbags and shoes, NSW Police said on their website on Saturday.

Officers seized 15 pairs of designer shoes including from Gucci, Luis Vuitton and Chanel, police said.

They also found designer handbags from Chanel and Prada along with mobile phones and electronic devices, police said.

A Coco Chanel handbag in its box (left) and a Prada handbag (right) were among the treasure trove of designer handbags and shoes seized in South Strathfield, Sydney on Friday. A simple Prada handbag can retail for more than $3000

Police arrested a Thai woman on Friday after raiding a house and a unit in Sydney

A pair of Coco Chanel shoes seized in the raids. Chanel shoes can sell for more than $1000

A pair of Coco Chanel shoes seized in the raids. Chanel shoes can sell for more than $1000

A simple, small, black Prada handbag can retail for more than $3000.

NSW Police said financial crimes squad detectives from Strike Force McKeon began investigating reports of fraud and money laundering in August 2018. 

Police arrested the Thai woman on Friday and took her to Auburn police station where she was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.  

Investigations are continuing, and police have asked anyone with information to please call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police have reminded the public not to report crimes on the NSW Police social media pages.

 

Pictured above: a selection of the designer shoes seized by police

Pictured above: a selection of the designer shoes seized by police

Pictured above: a selection of the high-end designer handbags seized by police

Pictured above: a selection of the high-end designer handbags seized by police

The 27-year-old woman was arrested Friday and faced court on Saturday over three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception

The 27-year-old woman was arrested Friday and faced court on Saturday over three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk