Sydney Nurse Loses $320K in Terrifying Fake Police Scam

• Scam Victim Story
• Banking Scams
• Identity Fraud

A Sydney woman was manipulated into handing over her life savings by scammers posing as Chinese police. Here's how it happened—and how to avoid falling victim.

Sydney Nurse Scammed Out of $320,000 by Sophisticated Fraud Ring

Amelia*, a 30-year-old nurse from Sydney, lost over $320,000 after falling victim to a terrifying scam that began with a phone call in June last year. Thinking she was speaking to her credit card company, Amelia had no idea the number had been spoofed—nor that her nightmare was just beginning.

Fake Fraud Alert Turns into Fake Police Interrogation

Amelia was told her credit card had been used to purchase drugs online and that she needed to speak to police. The call was transferred to individuals posing as Chinese authorities, who claimed she was part of a criminal syndicate involved in money laundering. The threats escalated quickly—arrest, deportation, imprisonment—leaving her terrified and confused.

Two Months of Psychological Manipulation

To avoid jail, Amelia was told she had to be placed under constant video surveillance and not speak to anyone about the investigation. For two months, she remained on a live video stream while being coached on how to perform international bank transfers that wouldn’t raise red flags.

“They told me all the bank’s policies and how to bypass the security system,” she said. “If I didn’t look calm and the transaction didn’t go through, I’d go to jail.”

Step-by-Step Financial Loss

The scam drained Amelia’s savings through a series of transfers:

• $134,000 from her mortgage offset at Commonwealth Bank to her ANZ account
• $200,000 from ANZ to the scammers, supposedly for the Chinese government
• $60,000 top-up on her CBA home loan—she told the bank it was for home renovations

Amelia described the ordeal as a blur of “stress response mania” where fear and psychological pressure made it nearly impossible to think clearly or seek help.

Scammers Exploit Victims with Fear and Authority

Scams like these are becoming increasingly common and dangerously elaborate. Victims are isolated, placed under duress, and manipulated using real-world knowledge of financial systems. Fake documents, spoofed phone numbers, and live call setups make these scams feel terrifyingly real.

How to Protect Yourself

• Be suspicious of calls from unknown numbers, even if they look official—phone numbers can be spoofed.
• Never share personal or banking information over the phone unless you initiated the contact.
• Hang up and call back using contact details from an official website if you’re unsure.
• Watch for red flags: urgent demands, secrecy, and emotional manipulation are signs of a scam.
• Talk to your bank before making large transfers or loan applications.

If You’ve Been Scammed

Contact your bank immediately and report the incident to Scamwatch. You can also get support from IDCARE, Australia’s national identity and cyber support service.

No one should suffer alone—if you’ve been a victim, speak up. Sharing your story helps others avoid the same trap.

*Name changed for privacy