Loan scam earns mother and sons jail time

Originaly by TWCA:  A mother who was addicted to gambling and persuaded her two sons to take part in an elaborate loan scam involving $1.3 million dollars was handed a 15-month jail term in the Perth District Court on Monday.

Tuong Hoc Mac and her two sons, Hoang Tri Mac and Phan Mac, were among the nine people convinced by Cong Thanh Tran, 25, and his partner Salina Sau Lai Ng, 26, to submit false loan applications totalling $1.3 million between November 2007 and last August.

Mac’s two sons were each sentenced by Judge Steven Scott to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. All three were ordered to repay Bank West.

The court heard that Ms Mac had a gambling addiction and that even when she did not have money she would head to Burswood simply to watch the gambling.

Another man involved in the scheme, Thanh Tuan Tran, also pleaded guilty and was ordered to repay the bank.

Thanh Tuan Tran had gambling debts worth $5000 and had taken part in the scam in a bid to repay his debts.

The bank became suspicious when the four, along with others, failed to make repayments on their loans and staff uncovered links between the loans.

Police began investigating the case last year and have charged 11 people with 60 fraud offences.

Cong Thanh Tran and Salina Sau Lai Ng were also charged over their involvement in a Sydney-based gang which stole credit card details in the US and bought goods in Australia using counterfeit credit cards.