WA man loses $700,000 in Spanish scam

RIPPED OFF: A Dongara man, in WA's MidWest has lost $700,000 in a Spanish inheritance and property scam. Source: Supplied

A JOINT operation into online scammers has uncovered its largest recorded loss - $700,000 - after a three-day visit to Geraldton this week.

Detectives from Project Sunbird have been in the Midwest to visit 23 fraud victims who have lost a total of $1,035,700.

Among them is a Dongara man who was victim of an inheritance and property scam in Spain for three years, losing $700,000.

Project Sunbird started in May 2012, run by WA Police Major Fraud Squad and the Department of Commerce & Consumer Protection, to investigate funds transferred from WA to West African scammers.

Officers in the team track down victims who repeatedly send large amounts of money to countries such as Ghana, Nigeria or Sierra Leone and notify them that they have been defrauded.

Detectives said people living in regional and remote areas were susceptible to being scammed because of the isolation that can come from living in the country.

The Dongara victim said he felt foolish, but wanted to make others aware of the risks.

“I didn’t know, but the policeman told me that I had been ripped off for over $500,000,” he said.

The man said he became tangled up in a Spanish scam three years ago, which fleeced him of more than $300,000 before he caught on to a second scam that he caught on to.

He said the criminals were still after his money and send elaborate emails entrapping the victims.

“They can produce documents that look more original than the originals, they’re that clever,” he said.

“They can print documents that are identical to the bank and you would never know the difference. I know because I’ve got documents here from the bank, supposedly.”

He warned not to get “sucked in” by the sob stories no matter how genuine the stories sound.

“You’re not even talking to the people you think you’re talking to, it’s all just lies and fake,” he said.

While in the Midwest, detectives also found a Geraldton construction worker who met a woman via an online dating site and was coerced into sending $26,000 to her for several reasons, including money for an air-ticket to Perth.

He even went to the airport, but she never showed.

Anyone who knows a victim of fraud or believes they might have been scammed is urged to contact their local consumer protection office or police station for more information.

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Carles loses latest round in Buswell brawl

Adele Carles has been told to keep quiet about her case against Troy Buswell. Source: The Sunday Times

Troy Buswell will be spared the embarrassment of a defamation trial in the week of the election. Source: PerthNow

WEST Australian MP Adele Carles has been warned by a judge to keep quiet about her legal battle with her ex-lover and State Treasurer Troy Buswell or face a contempt of court charge.

The two MPs will also be spared the embarrassment of their bitter personal dispute being aired in court in the week of the March 9 state election.

The former Greens MP and Mr Buswell are engaged in a defamation dispute over claims Ms Carles made late last year about the Treasurer's behaviour during their relationship.

The first main court hearing had been scheduled for just three days before the poll, but lawyers for Mr Buswell applied to have the date put back.

Mr Buswell had also applied to have the details of his claim against Ms Carles kept confidential, a move that Ms Carles had resisted.

In the Supreme Court today, Justice Rene Le Miere said Ms Carles, the Independent MP for Fremantle, was under a "substantive obligation'' not to make public Mr Buswell's statement of claim and could be in contempt of court if she did so.

Through her lawyers, Ms Carles said she would keep the details of the case under wraps as it proceeded.

In another blow, she was also ordered to pay Mr Buswell's costs, amounting to $2882.

Justice Le Miere said the matter would next be heard after March 21, not on March 6 as had been scheduled.

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Ship loses power, hits North Mole

A CARGO ship has struck North Mole as it was leaving Fremantle Port this morning.

The Princess Mary, a 100m cargo ship known as a tweendecker vessel, was leaving port about 4.30am when it lost  engine power.

"The ship lost power and nudged into the North Mole just past berth one on North Quay," a Fremantle Port Authority spokeswoman said.

"It's now been pulled off and has been put to anchor near South Mole whilst it's inspected."

The spokeswoman said it was too early to tell if there was any significant damage to North Mole or the ship itself.

"Whether there has been any damage there (North Mole) I don't know at this stage," she said.

It's understood the ship was heading to Christmas Island and was carrying scrap metal.

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