Victoria Police have charged five people and seized four luxury vehicles worth more than half a million dollars as part of an investigation into fraudulent loan applications.
Police charged three people over the Australia Day long weekend – a 54-year-old woman and 28-year-old man from Wollert, as well as a 27-year-old Donnybrook man – following the arrest of a further two men from Donnybrook and Roxburgh Park January 1.
A six-month investigation found the alleged offenders used false identity documents to obtain loans for the purchase of premium vehicles, which were then sold on for financial gain.
A total of four vehicles have been seized as a part of the investigation – an Audi RS7, Toyota LandCruiser, Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-AMG C-Class – valued at a combined $622,860.
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Source: Victoria Police
The quintet were charged with the crimes of obtaining financial advantage by deception and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
All five are set to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates and Broadmeadows Magistrates courts in May.
“These people were living an extravagant lifestyle on stolen funds,” said Detective Sergeant Thomas McGowan from the Financial Crime Squad.
“Not only were they gaining profit from the loans, but they were also further ripping people off by selling vehicles that had been purchased as proceeds of crime.
“What could have been someone’s dream car has turned out to be a nightmare.”
