Detectives have laid 26 additional charges against a man as part of an investigation into his alleged role in scamming more than 180,000 from would-be dog owners.
In May this year, detectives from Cumberland and Parramatta Police Area Commands commenced an investigation into reports of fraudulent online advertisements for puppies – mostly English Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and French Bulldogs.
Police will allege a multinational crime syndicate was behind the ads and defrauded at least 23 buyers across Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.
The Sydney man allegedly acted as a money mule for the syndicate, receiving a total of nearly $183,000 in deposits from the buyers into his bank accounts before allegedly converting the money into cryptocurrency.
Following extensive investigations, detectives charged a 53-year-old man on Tuesday 25 May 2021.
He remains before the courts.
Since this time, a further 50 buyers have been identified and an additional 26 counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, will be laid at court today (Thursday 21 October 2021).
The man remains on conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court.
Investigations are continuing.
