Name: Two charged after allegedly scamming $50,000 from elderly women
Uploaded: 2026-01-08T06:42:46.139Z
Duration: 1 min 57 s
Description: Two Romanian nationals have been charged after allegedly stealing more than $50,000 by scamming 18 elderly women in shopping centre car parks across NSW, including in Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and several Sydney suburbs.

Two Romanian nationals have been charged after allegedly stealing more than $50,000 by scamming 18 elderly women in shopping centre car parks across NSW, including in Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and several Sydney suburbs.

New South Wales

Police in New South Wales have arrested two Romanian nationals accused of targeting women over 60 in a series of car park thefts across the state. The suspects allegedly distracted victims with a fake car issue before stealing purses, wallets, and credit cards, with losses exceeding $50,000 from 18 victims.

The arrested men, who arrived on tourist visas, face 72 charges each, while police continue to search for two more suspects believed to be involved. Authorities are working with the Australian Federal Police to track the suspects' movements and believe there may be additional victims, potentially in Victoria.

Two charged after allegedly scamming $50,000 from elderly women

swindled during a trip to the shops. To be perfectly honest, it makes my blood boil. Over the past week, in car parks across New South Wales, police say these two men, believed to be part of an international organised crime network, preyed on women over 60. It was really, obviously, quite callous and cowardly. The scam was simple but well-coordinated. They'd approach their target, telling them they'd spotted a mechanical issue with their car. One would lift the bonnet, distracting the driver, while another would steal their belongings. Police say the men took more than $50,000, pocketing purses, wallets, cash and credit cards from 18 victims across the state, from the south coast to inner-city Sydney and as far north as Forster. Among them, Libby Taylor from Lake Macquarie. I immediately logged into my first bank and saw that there were four international transfers to Dubai of around $3,500 each. It was about $14,200 that had been transferred out of my account. Two Romanian nationals who arrived in the country on tourist visas in late December have already been arrested. They're facing 72 charges each. Police are hunting another two men, both aged in their 40s. We did recognise this pattern of behaviour because it's not something we ordinarily see in Australia and certainly something that we do see overseas. Police believe there could be more victims, not just in New South Wales, but potentially in Victoria, which is where the men travelled from. Officers here are now working with the AFP to track the men's movements. Victims are still trying to get their money back, their sense of security shattered by people they thought they could trust. I'm still astounded that they could do what they did. John Paul Gonzo, 10 News.

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