Sydney Fortune Teller Fraud Case

Sydney ‘Psychic’ Allegedly Directed A$70m Fraud Syndicate

A self-described spiritual adviser who assured clients a wealthy benefactor was in their future is at the heart of one of Australia's most elaborate fraud investigations, with authorities alleging she guided a criminal organisation that embezzled nearly A$70 million.

A Morning Raid in Dover Heights

At first light on a Wednesday, heavily armed tactical police swarmed a multimillion-dollar residence in Dover Heights, one of Sydney’s most prestigious postcodes. The operation targeted a 53-year-old woman, Anya Phan, and her 25-year-old daughter, Thi Ta. Authorities took both women into custody at the address. The action represented a major development in a protracted investigation into an enormous criminal network. Residents in the wealthy eastern suburb looked on as officers carried bags of evidence from the A$13.8 million home. The sudden arrest disrupted the neighbourhood's calm and thrust a sprawling financial crime inquiry into the national news.

The Adviser and the Assurance

Investigators claim Anya Phan exploited her esteemed position within the Vietnamese community to carry out a widespread deception. By holding herself out as a spiritual consultant and feng shui expert, she purportedly earned the confidence of susceptible people, many of whom were facing monetary difficulties. Phan would conduct consultations and then forecast that a "billionaire" would soon appear to resolve their financial woes. This affluent destiny, she supposedly promised, would arrive much faster if they first obtained large bank loans. Authorities believe this was a premeditated falsehood intended to trick individuals into unknowingly joining a criminal plot, with Phan retaining a large portion of every loan.

Piecing Together a Complex Puzzle

The arrests stem from Strike Force Myddleton, an inquiry launched in January 2024 by the New South Wales Police command for financial crimes. In its initial phase, the task force concentrated on an organisation that was reportedly using pilfered identities to secure finance for non-existent luxury "ghost cars". Investigators, however, quickly discovered the vehicle financing scam was just one part of a far bigger criminal undertaking. The probe widened to cover extensive fraud related to personal, business, and mortgage loans against several large financial entities, uncovering a scheme of incredible sophistication and breadth.

The Syndicate's Financial Scope

The deception allegedly organised by Phan with assistance from her daughter is projected to be nearly A 70 million. This amount, however, is thought to be a component of a much broader web of illicit dealings. Official shave connected the pair to the "Penthouse Syndicate," a group accused of defrauding prominent Australian banks of as much as A 250 million over multiple years. The wider organisation is said to have employed advanced techniques, such as establishing front companies and using compromised insiders at banking institutions, to obtain huge loans. These proceeds were subsequently laundered through the purchase of a significant real estate portfolio throughout Sydney.

A Look Inside the 'Penthouse Syndicate'

The "Penthouse Syndicate" acquired its moniker from the extravagant lifestyle of its purported leader, who lived in an A$18 million Sydney high-rise apartment. This criminal network stands accused of systematically cheating banks by concocting detailed false narratives. Prior to her detention, authorities allege Anya Phan assumed a principal role in the syndicate while its main figurehead was occupied with other court matters. The link between the Dover Heights operation and this larger, well-structured group illustrates the entrenched and intertwined character of the alleged criminal scheme, which had been active for years while accumulating a vast fortune through deceit.

A Cache of Confiscated Assets

The search of the Dover Heights property produced a substantial collection for law enforcement. Officers took possession of financial records, mobile devices, and other electronics that are now being forensically examined. They also seized high-end handbags, casino chips worth A 6,600, and a 40-gram gold ingot valued at A 10,000. Beyond these items, the NSW Crime Commission has initiated proceedings to freeze A 15 million in assets tied to the two women. This amount is in addition to A 60 million in holdings previously frozen during the broader investigation, elevating the total value of restricted assets to A$75 million.

The Formal Allegations

After being taken into custody, the two women were transported to Surry Hills Police Station for formal processing. Anya Phan, 53, is confronted with 39 offences. These encompass the grave charge of knowingly guiding a criminal organisation’s activities, nineteen counts of fraudulently securing a financial benefit, and thirteen counts of knowingly handling crime proceeds. Her daughter, Thi Ta, 25, was hit with seven distinct charges, which included reckless handling of criminal profits, participation in a criminal organisation, and two instances of fraudulently securing a financial benefit.

Legal Proceedings Get Underway

Anya Phan was not granted bail and fronted the Downing Centre Local Court the day after she was apprehended. A bail application was not made, and her case was postponed until January of the following year. The court's refusal to grant her release highlights the seriousness of the claims and her alleged pivotal position in the syndicate’s activities. In contrast, conditional bail was granted to her daughter, Thi Ta. She is due to front the same court on 23 January 2026, subject to a different set of legal requirements as her case moves forward.

A Senior Officer’s Assessment

Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, who leads the squad for financial crimes, characterised the case as among the most complex he has seen during his professional life. He noted that the inquiry, which started with a focus on fraudulent vehicle finance, had since revealed an exceptionally elaborate financial crime organisation. He detailed how Phan allegedly targeted people in financial distress, persuading them to act as conduits for the criminal entity. Detective Superintendent Arbinja contended that Phan would personally gain at least A$150,000 from every loan she arranged by capitalising on these individuals' situations.

Pursuing the Professional Enablers

Authorities have been clear that their inquiry will not conclude with the primary suspects. Detective Superintendent Arbinja stated that the strike force is now focusing on the professionals who allegedly made the syndicate's work possible. He specifically indicated that investigators are pursuing legal experts, accountants, and developers in the property sector who may have deliberately helped the criminal entity. This shift in focus shows a resolve to break down the entire structure, from the purported leaders to the white-collar experts whose knowledge might have been essential in carrying out such massive and intricate financial schemes.

The ‘Ghost Cars’ Ruse

The first clue that brought investigators to this extensive syndicate was a plot involving "ghost cars". The criminal organisation was reportedly using the stolen personal details of over 33 people to request loans from automotive finance providers. These loans were intended for the acquisition of premium cars that were purely fictional. This specific type of deception served as the initial entry point for the police, uncovering that the syndicate's operations were far more widespread. It showed a deliberate method for identity theft and a sophisticated grasp of how to manipulate vulnerabilities in lending institution procedures for substantial profit.

Abusing Community Confidence

A central aspect of the alleged scheme was the callous manipulation of confidence within a particular community. Anya Phan was reportedly a prominent and well-regarded figure in Sydney’s Vietnamese community. It was this confidence, investigators claim, that she methodically took advantage of. By presenting herself as a spiritual adviser and confidante, she was able to persuade individuals to share details of their monetary struggles. She then purportedly exploited their vulnerability, promising an incredible solution through a wealthy benefactor while allegedly luring them into a criminal plot that benefited her own finances and left them with severe repercussions.

A Web of Complicity

The syndicate’s purported success in cheating banks out of hundreds of millions would have been almost unachievable without internal assistance. Authorities assert the organisation was assisted by compromised banking personnel who authorised fraudulent loans. A noteworthy arrest in the wider inquiry was that of Timotius Donny Sungkar, a 36-year-old senior manager in business banking at the National Australia Bank. He was hit with 19 charges for his supposed involvement in assisting the "Penthouse Syndicate" to secure around A$10 million in illegitimate business loans. This brings to light a significant weakness in the financial system that the syndicate purportedly exploited to the maximum.

An Ongoing Series of Arrests

The apprehension of Phan and her daughter represents the most recent development in a sequence of operations by Strike Force Myddleton. Before the raid in Dover Heights, seventeen other people had been charged in relation to the syndicate’s dealings and are now facing the courts. With the recent detention of the NAB bank manager, the total number of individuals charged has climbed to well over a dozen. This expanding roster of defendants, from supposed leaders to financial insiders, demonstrates the wide scope of the police inquiry and the large number of individuals thought to be part of the complex criminal operation.

The Digital and Physical Clues

In an inquiry of this type, tangible and electronic evidence is essential. The financial records and smartphones taken from the Dover Heights address are seen as vital. Detectives will carefully examine these items to chart the syndicate’s structure, follow the movement of illicit money, and confirm the links between the various alleged conspirators. This material will be the foundation of the prosecution’s case, offering a comprehensive account of the alleged offences and potentially guiding investigators to other people who have not yet been located.

The Mechanics of Money Laundering

The syndicate is accused of conducting an exceptionally complex operation for laundering money. This allegedly included shifting the profits from illegitimate loans through an intricate grid of over 60 bank accounts to hide the money’s source. The funds were then purportedly invested in solid assets, like upscale properties around Sydney, and used to support extravagant lifestyles. The use of casinos offered another practical way to "clean" illicit cash, transforming it into apparently legitimate winnings. This multifaceted strategy made it extremely challenging for officials to trace the enormous sums being moved by the enterprise.

A Message to the Public

Law enforcement officials have used this case to deliver a serious message about financial crime. Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja emphasised that criminal organisations frequently use their professional abilities and business frameworks to create wealth for themselves, completely ignoring their victims. The case acts as a potent cautionary story, showing how organised criminals can abuse trust and rig financial systems for their own benefit. It also underscores the devastating effects on blameless individuals who might have their savings stolen or their identities used for fraud, often saddling them with huge debts for things they never had.

The Difficult Path to Justice

The inquiry by Strike Force Myddleton is still very much active. With more than half of the syndicate's alleged members yet to be caught, police have indicated that numerous additional arrests are anticipated. The legal journey for the nearly twenty individuals already charged will be drawn-out and intricate, probably involving extensive court proceedings as prosecutors lay out the massive body of evidence collected. For the victims, the path to any kind of compensation or resolution will be arduous, as the NSW Crime Commission endeavors to unravel the complex network of assets and restore value to the community.

Sydney's Criminal Underworld Uncovered

This case offers a startling look into a criminal environment functioning just below the exterior of one of the planet's most attractive cities. The allegations depict a very structured, ruthless, and advanced network that successfully breached major financial institutions and exploited defenceless people on a massive scale. The "Penthouse Syndicate" and the "fortune teller" deception reveal how confidence, professional skill, and systemic flaws can be twisted to power a criminal engine. The continuing investigation is set to uncover even more about the concealed framework of organised financial crime in Australia.