Serious Fraud Office charges two women in $5 million mortgage fraud case

The New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has filed charges against two women following an investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate that fraudulently obtained nearly $5 million in mortgages.

The SFO alleges the group used stolen identities of at least three people to secure lending against properties they did not own. To facilitate the scheme, the syndicate reportedly forged residential tenancy records, immigration records, a New Zealand driver's license, and used foreign passports. They also allegedly utilized fictitious addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses to set up bank accounts in the victims' names.

The two women, who are currently under interim name suppression, were arrested after a search warrant was executed in Epsom and appeared in the Auckland District Court facing charges of obtaining by deception. They are scheduled to appear in court again on August 26, 2026.

The SFO is currently seeking public assistance to identify three other individuals—two men and one woman—who may have information regarding the syndicate. It is believed these individuals frequent the Albany and St Lukes areas of Auckland.