A Queensland songwriter has become embroiled in a scam which has seen two people take in almost $900,000 by duping investors.
As 9News reports, Sunshine Coast locals Tanya Pluckhahn and Aaron Parsons were arrested this week and are now facing five counts of fraud each after they scammed investors into helping finance the career of local artist Alys Ffion, who they dubbed as the "next Taylor Swift".
Pluckhahn and Parsons told investors in 2016 that they were assisting in raising money for Ffion's career, who travelled to Nashville a few years ago to crack the US market, however Ffion has come forward and revealed she knew nothing of the plan.
Police say the money raised by Pluckhahn and Parsons was instead used for their own interests, including purchases of cars and to pay bills associated with their hospitality business despite telling investors they would receive regular payments based on Ffion's success.
"The ploy was to prop her career up and she was going to have a possible extended career, and these investors would receive substantial gains back," detective acting inspector Daren Edwards said.
"When one investor paid money in... they would then on-pay some money... for example if an investor paid in $100,000 they might see $20,000 back.
"It gave them the effect they thought they were getting returns... it (also) helped get other investors and staved off the people making further inquires trying to ascertain what happened to their money."
Edwards added, "She's a nice young lady... her career was starting to develop on social media. It's a shame and no doubt she feels very bad about what has occurred."
Five investors have come forward to police, while a sixth person withdrew their complaint after receiving about $80,000 back by the pair. Police believe there are still more victims involved in the scam.
Pluckhahn and Parsons will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 6 January.
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