A Cassowary Coast man has been scammed out of $343,500.
The victim aged in his 70s allegedly responded to a personal advertisement and engaged in what he thought was a paid dating service.
Police say he made payments to woman who claimed to be a widow in her 50s.
From there, it is alleged the woman claimed she required large payments to get out of a work contract.
After contact was ceased, he reported the matter to Cairns Police Station in March 2023.
Following extensive investigations, on July 25, detectives executed search warrants at two homes at Benowa on the Gold Coast, where two women were taken into custody.
A third search warrant was also executed at a Mermaid Beach property.
It will be alleged at one of the Benowa properties, $79,200 in cash was located hidden within pillows in a bedroom.
A 52-year-old Benowa woman has been charged with five counts of fraud and one count each of receiving tainted property, possessing tainting property and contravening an order about access to information stored electronically.
A 29-year-old Benowa woman, has been charged with five counts of fraud.
Both are next expected to have their matters heard before Southport Magistrates Court on October 3.
On the morning of August 4, a 52-year-old Mermaid Beach man was taken into custody after he presented to Broadbeach Police Station.
He has been charged with four counts of fraud and is next expected to have his matter heard before Southport Magistrates Court on September 18.
The group are accused of defrauding two other men using the same scam.
The total the three men were allegedly defrauded of totals $496,578.
Police say there are potentially dozens of people across Australia, impacted by this allegedly fraudulent dating service.
If you believe you are a victim of a scam, immediately notify your financial institution and then report the matter to ReportCyber.
