<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>329823</docID> <postdate>2024-09-26 13:58:29</postdate> <headline>Accused international scamming ring fronts court</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-286513" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Australian_banknotes_in_wallet.jpeg" alt="" width="1016" height="677" /></p> <caption>Thirty Australians have been identified as victims of a scam which swindled more than $14 million.</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Tara Cosoleto</b> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>Seven Victorians accused of helping overseas scammers swindle more than $14 million from innocent victims have faced a Melbourne court.</strong></p> <p>Police allege the group opened and managed fraudulent local business accounts over an 18-month period to make the scam look legitimate.</p> <p>The international scammers then used the local accounts to trick victims into thinking they were depositing money into fixed-term deposits or buying shares.</p> <p>It's alleged the Victorian-based mules moved more than $14 million offshore between August 2022 and February 2024, receiving commissions in return.</p> <p>Thirty Australians have been identified as victims, including a 56-year-old Canberra woman who transferred $1.6 million to a fake account in February.</p> <p>Six men aged 44 to 51 and a 45-year-old woman have been charged in the past nine months with dealing with proceeds of crime offences.</p> <p>They are Simon Geoffrey Flockhart, Christopher George Johnston, Scott Anderson, Damian Tuckwell Meredith, Lonnie Brian Stephenson, Brent Aaron Watts and Nicole Kristy Clegg.</p> <p>The group fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday morning for a committal mention hearing</p> <p>Watts and Clegg appeared via video link from custody, while the rest appeared in person either on bail or on summons.</p> <p>The court was told police are still seeking six statements, including three from victims who live either overseas or interstate.</p> <p>A forensic accountant has also been contacted to compile a report, but police have been told it could take between eight and 12 months to complete.</p> <p>Magistrate Belinda Wallington told the informant to see if the process could be expedited, given the importance of the accountant's evidence.</p> <p>The case was adjourned for a further committal mention in December, while a five-day committal hearing has been set down for April 2025.</p> </body>