They never saw it coming: How accused phony fortune teller and her daughter went from a humble home in Sydney's west to glorious $14million clifftop mansion - before police swooped on their alleged $70million scam

An accused fake fortune teller and her daughter, allegedly embroiled in a scheme that swindled around $70million from Vietnamese Australians, rose meteorically from a modest home to luxurious surroundings. 

Anya Phan, 53, is accused of being involved in one of the most sophisticated financial syndicates NSW has seen, with the assistance of her daughter Thi Ta, 25. 

Police will allege Phan posed as a psychic then coaxed clients into taking out loans before taking a portion of the funds. 

Footage shows the pair being arrested at their $13.75million Dover Heights mansion, in Sydney's east, early on Wednesday - but the lavish home is a far cry from their previous home in the city's inner west. 

Business records for Phan's company obtained by The Daily Mail show her registered address in May this year was a humble single-storey rental in Lewisham.

The four-bedroom property, which last sold for $175,000, was at the time being rented out for $790 per week. 

Just weeks later, in June, Phan's company purchased the Dover Heights multi-million dollar four-bedroom property, about 15km away in the city's ritzy eastern suburbs. 

The luxury property includes an indoor cinema, a six-person lift, a gym, steam room, swimming pool, and sprawling harbour views. 

Their extravagance appears to extend further than just real estate.  

Ta seemed to enjoy a jet-setting lifestyle, last year embarking on a trip around Asia with her partner, Jett Griffiths. 

Pictures posted on social media show the couple posing alongside monkeys and visiting cultural sites throughout China. 

Mr Griffiths has not been charged in relation to the alleged fraud scheme and The Daily Mail does not suggest he is in any way involved. 

He declined to comment on his girlfriend's charges when contacted on Thursday. 

However, sources close to Mr Griffiths told The Daily Mail he is 'doing fine' given the circumstances. 

Police will allege Phan claimed to be a feng shui master and fortune teller and convinced vulnerable clients in Sydney's Vietnamese community to take out loans.

She then allegedly pocketed a share of the money herself while promising her clients that a 'billionaire' was in their future. 

Phan is estimated to have allegedly defrauded clients to the tune of about $70million.

During a search of the mansion on Wednesday, detectives allegedly seized financial documents, mobile phones, electronics, luxury handbags, a 40-gram gold bar worth about $10,000, and $6,600 in casino chips.

The arrests follow an extensive investigation started in January 2024 into a syndicate allegedly using stolen identities to obtain financing for luxury 'ghost cars' that did not exist.

Police alleged this spread to large-scale loan fraud across multiple financial institutions.

The so-called 'Penthouse Syndicate' is alleged to have defrauded the National Australia Bank of more than $150million over two years, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

It is alleged the syndicate used the money to develop a property portfolio across the city, aided by corrupt bank employees.

Up to $250million was involved across major banks and financiers over a period of seven years, police allege.

NAB senior business banking manager Timotius Donny Sungkar, 36, was arrested and charged last week after allegedly facilitating about $10million in fraudulent loans for the syndicate.

Police allege Sungkar was paid $17,000 to approve the loans, which were applied for with documents linked to shell companies purchased by the syndicate. He remains in custody facing 19 charges.

Chris Sheehan, NAB executive group investigations, said customers were not impacted by the alleged incident, adding the bank had worked in partnership with police.

'There has been no customer impact or financial losses by customers as a result of this matter. 

'We are unable to comment further while this investigation is ongoing and before the court.'

The Penthouse Syndicate allegedly purchased dozens of Sydney properties using mules.

Phan is alleged to have recruited some of the mules used in the loans.

Bing 'Michael' Li, 38, was arrested in July at an $18million penthouse in the Crown residential tower at Barangaroo, from where he allegedly directed the syndicate. 

Seventeen people have previously been charged under Strike Force Myddleton, with $60million in assets restrained by the NSW Crime Commission.

The latest arrests brought the total value of seized assets to $75million after an additional $15million was frozen this week.

Financial Crimes Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja said the case had allegedly revealed one of the most complex operations he had seen in his career.

'What began as an investigation into fraudulent car financing has expanded,' he said.

He said his team had 'worked tirelessly' on the investigation and that not only financial institutions were allegedly involved, but also vulnerable people.

NSW Crime Commission Executive Director Darren Bennett said asset recovery was a key focus of the agency.  

'Recovering assets is not just about punishment - it's about restoring confidence and returning value to the people of NSW,' he said.

'Every dollar we recover ... can instead be redirected to benefit the community.'

Phan faces 39 charges, including knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, 19 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and 13 counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.

She was refused bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, where she did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned until January 15, 2026. 

Ta, her daughter, faces several charges including two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime valued at more than $5,000.

She was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday January 23, 2026.

 HOW POLICE CLAIM THE SCHEME ALLEGEDLY WORKED

• Phan allegedly targeted vulnerable people in Sydney's Vietnamese community.

• As a fortune teller, she allegedly told them she saw a 'billionaire' in their future.

• She then allegedly convinced them to take out loans in their own names - essentially becoming mules for the syndicate.

• Allegedly, some of these loans were for luxury 'ghost cars' that never existed.

• Police allege Phan kept a share of the loan money for herself.

• The proceeds allegedly flowed through shell companies and accounts controlled by the syndicate.

• Detectives say the group was overseen by alleged mastermind Bing 'Michael' Li.

• An NAB senior business banking manager,  now facing 19 charges, allegedly approved fraudulent applications in exchange for cash.

• The syndicate allegedly used the fraudulent loans to build a Sydney property portfolio aided by allegedly corrupt bank employees.

• Homes allegedly were bought under the names of mules, helping to disguise who controlled them.