Sydney ‘scammers’ nabbed buying $500K in gold bullion
A woman who bought half a million dollars worth of bullion using funds obtained from an alleged email scam was caught in a dramatic arrest at a Sydney gold dealer following a bank tip.
Police busted 20-year-old Siara-Lee Barrett, along with her alleged accomplices Sirelkhatim Mohamed Ali, 36, and Sophoni Tumaini, 29, at a gold bullion dealer in the CBD on Thursday afternoon.
Police seized $34,000 and three phones from the group’s car. During a search of an apartment in Zetland, three more phones were seized along with some documents. Approximately $300,000 of the allegedly stolen funds have since been recovered.
The arrests come weeks after National Australia Bank notified authorities about alleged business email compromise fraud.
Scams often target employees in large organizations by impersonating leaders, managers or other trusted individuals within the business and encouraging them to pay fake invoices or transfer funds.
Barrett was charged with dealing with proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.
Ali is also accused of participating in a criminal organization and tampering with personal information to commit a criminal offence.
The couple was released on bail. Their passports were handed over to the police and their conditions restricted them to only one phone.
Tumaini is charged with the same offenses as Ali, as well as two separate charges related to the proceeds of crime. He did not apply for bail and remains in custody.
All three are expected to return to Downing Center Local Court on May 28.
Gold bullion is among the high value, portable and untraceable products that are popular for money laundering among organized crime groups. Others include luxury goods, watches, and even Lego.
But gold has also become popular among retail investors, with long lines forming outside bullion dealers in recent months amid price hikes and other global economic fluctuations.
NAB has been contacted for comment.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
