SFO files charges against two women in alleged $5 million fraud, seeks public assistance
The Serious Fraud Office is seeking public assistance to identify three people they believe may have information that could assist an investigation into a suspected criminal syndicate.
The SFO last week filed charges against two women alleging they used fake identity documents to obtain almost $5 million in lending against properties that were not owned by them.
The two women (who have interim name suppression) were arrested following a search warrant in Epsom last week. They appeared in Auckland District Court on Wednesday 5 August 2026 facing four joint charges of obtaining by deception.
The SFO alleges a criminal syndicate worked together to fraudulently obtain nearly $5 million in mortgages. It is alleged they have stolen the identities of at least three people to dishonestly obtain mortgages against those people’s properties without their knowledge.
The criminal syndicate is alleged to have gone to some lengths to facilitate the offending, including forging residential tenancy records, immigration records, a New Zealand driver licence and used foreign passports. They are alleged to have used fictitious addresses, a PO Box, phone numbers and email addresses, and set up bank accounts in the names of the victims to receive funds.
The SFO is seeking the public’s assistance to identify three other individuals who may be able to help with its enquiries into this matter. It is believed these individuals frequent Albany and St Lukes in Auckland.
The agency has released images of two men and one woman (who are not either of the two people charged).
Anyone recognising those captured in the images, or who has information that could help identify them, should contact the SFO on sfo@sfo.govt.nz
The defendants’ next scheduled appearance is in the Auckland District Court on Wednesday 26 August 2026.
