An elderly man was tricked into friendship by a lesbian couple, at the expense of his life savings.
Robert Sullivan, a retiree from the Central Coast, became friends with local women Aruna Gould and Maria Anne Virgilli in 2014 at his local RSL in Wyong.
At the request of the two women, Sullivan began to provide them with money from his hard-earned and healthy amount of savings, totaling towards $55,000, 9news reported.
Robert Sullivan (pictured), a retired man from the Central Coast, lost over $50,000 when he met a lesbian couple at his local RSL in 2014
Aruna Gould (pictured, left) and Maria Anne Virgilli (pictured, right) became friends with Sullivan as a con to take thousands of dollars from him
‘I didn’t realise what it was all about until it was finished. I was just played for a stupid man, that’s all. One played me, then they both played me. Simple as that,’ he said.
Sullivan, who had been lonely, was excited by the new friends in his life and blindly handed the pair thousands of dollars.
The requests would come in over the phone from both the women.
‘I need money for this I need money for that. I need money for a cancer operation. Eye operation. Car gotta get fixed rent’s gotta get paid. Meet me here, meet me there,’ Sullivan said as he relayed the tactics of the con women.
Sullivan was asked why he provided the woman with the money.
‘Thought I might have a couple of friends,’ he said.
The heartbreaking and honest answer provides insight into the loneliness that haunts a proportion of the elderly population.
In Gosford Court, the two women pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining thousands of dollars.
Police allege that the women played their tricks on at least four other elderly men racking in an amount up to 1million dollars.
Sullivan recognises his errors but hopes that his story will help other victims come forward.
‘Watch out who your so-called friends are before you go and do what I did,’ he said.
The women pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining thousands of dollars at Gosford Court
Police allege that the women conned at least four other elderly men, racking up close to a million dollars