A police investigation is underway to track down Australian scammers who defrauded a young family, the Robinsons, out of their entire home deposit, amounting to $252,000. With just days left before their planned move into what they believed was their dream home in the Gold Coast hinterland, Sarah Robinson described their devastation as one of “complete heartbreak, disbelief and embarrassment.”
The Robinsons had spent 18 months searching for the right property, culminating in the purchase of a 5000-square-metre block for $1.3 million. They initially paid a $65,000 deposit to the real estate agent and were awaiting a transfer to their conveyancer. However, an email containing payment instructions received from scammers masquerading as their law firm led them to unwittingly redirect the substantial sum to the criminals.
The scam was meticulously orchestrated, with the scammers mimicking official correspondence down to font style, merely changing the web address suffix from “.com.au” to “.com.” Trusting the email’s authenticity, the couple opted to transfer funds in person at an ANZ branch, thinking it to be the safer option.
The situation took a dire turn when a day prior to settlement, their conveyancer inquired about the deposit. Realising something was amiss, Sarah soon received the devastating news from her husband that it was all a scam. They quickly contacted Queensland Police, who traced the money to a NAB account in Melbourne, with part of it later identified as being transferred to accounts linked to known individuals.
Despite valuable assistance from the banks, which recovered $82,000, the Robinsons were left with a crippling loss of $170,000. Rising property prices in the Gold Coast have since rendered them unable to re-enter the market. The emotional toll has been heavy on the family, with Sarah expressing her guilt and sorrow for the impact on her husband and children.
In the aftermath, Victoria Police have initiated an investigation and engaged with a suspected “money mule” in Melbourne, while frustrations linger regarding the ANZ bank’s handling of the transaction. Sarah noted her disbelief that an in-person bank transaction didn’t invoke further scrutiny when the account name mismatched the provided details.
In response, ANZ has expressed its commitment to improving security measures and is working on a “confirmation of payee” service expected in 2025. The incident has raised concerns among financial experts about safeguarding against scams involving fake emails, particularly in property transactions. They recommend verifying payment details independently rather than relying solely on emails, suggesting that a simple phone call can offer a safer alternative.
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland emphasised the rising trend of scammers targeting property transactions, encouraging individuals to be vigilant and cautious.