A 28-year-old Indian national residing in Australia on a student visa has been sentenced to two years in prison for executing a meticulously planned property fraud scheme. The individual, identified as Pardeep, was working as an Uber driver while allegedly studying Information Technology when he orchestrated the deception that netted him approximately $200,000.
Sophisticated Impersonation Scheme
The elaborate fraud began in October 2024 when Pardeep learned about a prospective homebuyer seeking services from a legitimate Sydney real estate law firm. Demonstrating calculated precision, Pardeep registered a domain name nearly identical to the actual law firm's website and created an email address that closely mimicked the firm's official communication channels.
Building a False Entity
As his communication with the victim progressed, Pardeep escalated his scheme by registering a company with a name similar to the legitimate law firm. He established a business bank account for this fabricated entity and listed himself as the director, creating a comprehensive illusion of authenticity.
Within a month of initial contact, Pardeep requested a payment of $209,000 for purported house purchase expenses, including stamp duty fees. The victim transferred this amount across two payments totaling $209,874 before realizing the deception after speaking with the actual lawyer from the legitimate firm.
Investigation and Conviction
When authorities investigated the reported fraud, police traced the scheme to Pardeep, who initially denied any wrongdoing and claimed to own a transport company. However, he could provide no evidence of customers or legitimate business operations.
Surveillance footage from a jewelry shop captured Pardeep purchasing gold with the stolen funds, with only $900 of the total $200,000 eventually recovered. Prosecutors informed the court that despite Pardeep's lawyer claiming he acted under another person's direction, investigators found no evidence of any accomplice involvement.
Judicial Response and Consequences
The judge sentenced Pardeep to two years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 14 months, noting that the defendant "knew exactly what he was doing." Upon his release, Pardeep faces likely deportation from Australia, where he had been living with his partner while on a student visa.
This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed in financial fraud schemes targeting property transactions and raises questions about visa compliance monitoring for international students engaged in employment activities beyond their study parameters.
