The adage “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” rings true for Gold Coast mother Helen Dimitrijevski. Nearly 30 years ago, she was exposed for running a sophisticated love scam that conspired to swindle lonely men out of their life savings. Now, authorities suspect she has resumed her deceitful ways, seemingly involving her daughter Sophie in the scheme.
One victim, Lex from Toowoomba, shared his story with A Current Affair, revealing he lost a staggering $42,000 while searching for love. Lex encountered an ad from a woman named ‘Kate’ claiming to be a widow seeking companionship. After contacting the supposed dating agency, he was promised the perfect match and soon began communicating with ‘Kate’ via text.
However, as their relationship progressed, money became a central theme. Lex initially paid a fee of $6,500 for the dating service, but was later coerced into sending more funds, enticed by Kate’s claims of needing to settle a contract with her employer, the Gold Coast Hospital. It wasn’t until Lex could no longer afford to send more cash that he realised he had been scammed; ‘Kate’ never existed.
Sadly, Lex’s loss was not an isolated case. Reports indicate that a man from Western Australia lost around $100,000, while a 70-year-old man from Far North Queensland was defrauded of over $340,000. Detectives discovered that Helen and Sophie had amassed considerable wealth from their fraudulent activities, indicating a level of sophistication in their operations. Upon raiding their home, police found large sums of cash and lists detailing the amounts scammed from victims.
When confronted by the media, Helen and Sophie attempted to evade questions about their alleged con artistry. Many victims, including Lex, felt disillusioned to discover that this was not Helen’s first offence, as she had previously operated a dating agency, TLC, which was banned due to the very same fraudulent activities.
Despite these setbacks, both mother and daughter have agreed to repay some of the defrauded men through a justice mediation process. Victims like Lex are hopeful that lessons have been learned and that justice will ultimately prevail. However, the allure of easy money poses a challenge, with authorities suggesting old habits die hard.
In summary, Helen and Sophie’s tale reflects a haunting pattern of deception, preying on the vulnerable in search of love. Their story serves as a cautionary reminder for individuals seeking companionship to remain vigilant against such scams which can leave lasting emotional and financial scars.