Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock

Australian police swoop on Gold Coast betting scam run by the 'Irish Boys'

Two Irish men are being held by Queensland Police.

TWO IRISH MEN are among four people arrested in a series of raids across Australia’s Gold Coast targeting a suspected fraud syndicate.

Australia’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) allege that the group, known as the ‘Irish Boys’, are involved in a cold-calling investment scam operation that has made at least $4 million by defrauding at least 150 people across the country.

It’s claimed the group run high-pressure sales operations known as ‘boiler-rooms’ and attempt to sell fake investment schemes and sports betting software.

Police believe that the four men arrested are among the leaders of the syndicate and are aged 32, 33, 34, and 36. Two of the men are Irish nationals and formal charges are expected to be brought later today.

Police say that there is an intelligence to suggest that some of the money has gone offshore.

“It will be alleged that these four men were the key players in running the two boiler rooms that we’ve dismantled today,” CCC’s Michael Scott said at a press conference this morning.

It’s understood that the software is aggressively sold to people on the premise that it provides them with a foolproof way of winning money from bookmakers by allowing them to bet on both sides of a two-sided sporting event at a profit.

The reality is those scammed cannot make money using the software because bookmakers do not take such bets.

The syndicate is alleged to have used seven different companies to conduct their operation with the raids carried out a number of locations at Surfers Paradise and Bundall.

Three businesses and six residential properties were searched along the Gold Coast and Scott says that “two active boiler rooms” were shut down by CCC officers working with Queensland Police.

Forty-five people were found to be working out of the offices police said today:

“Sales people use high-pressure and dishonest sales tactics to sell fraudulent investment schemes and sports betting software to members of the public. It is sophisticated organised criminal activity.”

Some of the dishonest tactics used by those involved in the scam are the use of false names, virtual offices and even fake receptionists to deceive the those targeted by the fraudsters.

Read: Irishman arrested after Sydney couple awoke to find him naked in their bed >

Read: Aussie dad asks politicians to fund holiday, public step in >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
35 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O Donnell
    Favourite Paul O Donnell
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:38 PM

    What odds the irish boys have a record here already.

    392
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Reese
    Favourite John Reese
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 3:51 PM

    Unlikely as they would never have got a visa for Australia if they did?

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Plane Spotter
    Favourite Plane Spotter
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 4:09 PM

    I know 3 lads in Australia, all 3 have criminal records with 2 of the 3 having served time

    177
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
    Favourite Dave O'Hanlon
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 5:48 PM

    @John. Think you missed Pauls point

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kane Abel
    Favourite Kane Abel
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 11:25 PM

    Isnt Scammers taking money from wanna-be Scammers, a victimless crime…. Hard to find sympathy in all fairness…. although. that said, bookies are utter c***s too…..

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Walsh
    Favourite Kieran Walsh
    Report
    Aug 18th 2015, 3:50 PM

    Don’t use the word ‘to’ before intellectually if you’re trying to be smart.

    Don’t use tbh after the word intellectual if you’re trying to be smart

    Don’t bother bringing in the ‘traveller’ angle, its very straw-man

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran
    Favourite Ciaran
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:33 PM

    Nice to call them the Irish boys when only half the group are Irish! Aussies are unreal.

    358
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Moran
    Favourite Daniel Moran
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:39 PM

    *Some Aussies are unreal

    224
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Powerful Sayings
    Favourite Powerful Sayings
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:48 PM

    and none of them are boys.

    136
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sledro
    Favourite Sledro
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 3:38 PM

    *The vast majority of Aussies are unreal.

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Collins
    Favourite Tom Collins
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 3:42 PM

    Haha exactly what I was thinking. Two of the four are Irish and well that’s all that matters really.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jake Race
    Favourite Jake Race
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 4:41 PM

    Why do you assume the Australian authorities named this gang? Gangs usually name themselves and it is not unusual for a gang to be referred to as the x boys.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:36 PM

    Wolf of Ramsey Street.

    261
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jake Race
    Favourite Jake Race
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 4:36 PM

    Ramsay st is in Melbourne. 1500Kms away from Surfer’s Paradise.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 6:29 PM

    You must be great craic at parties.

    179
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jake Race
    Favourite Jake Race
    Report
    Aug 18th 2015, 4:01 PM

    I don’t care for parties.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute legoman❗
    Favourite legoman❗
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:42 PM

    Bleedin travellers… Knacker’s the lot of them.

    163
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Higgins
    Favourite Kevin Higgins
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 3:07 PM

    to be honest you only notice the bad ones. The good ones have already blended into society like the rest of us. Same logic would apply to the Roma community.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carmo Vanderval
    Favourite Carmo Vanderval
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 11:16 PM

    So the journal moderator’s think this comment is fine? Way to go. Lazy idiots.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Hughes
    Favourite Paul Hughes
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:35 PM

    How does common sense not tell you that a registered bookmaker won’t let you bet on two sides in a sporting event at a profit? Regardless of the “software”

    132
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Higgins
    Favourite Kevin Higgins
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:47 PM

    Do the anti immigration people agree with consistency? All irish migrants running scams, still unemployed, working without paying tax or have a criminal record should be sent home. Whatever way we treat these migrants and refugees expect the same treatment when you go abroad

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carmo Vanderval
    Favourite Carmo Vanderval
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 3:07 PM

    Bloody immigrants. Keep them out, and by the same logic, keep them in.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Darcy
    Favourite James Darcy
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:33 PM

    What’s the odds of that?

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute IrishGravyTrain
    Favourite IrishGravyTrain
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:54 PM

    Heard of this software before. You must bet very big to make any profit. Its not 1 bookies its 2. For a hypothetical example for tonights game of Liverpool. V Bournemouth. Paddypower might have over 2.5 goals at 2.05 and Ladbrokes have under 2.5 goals at 2.05. Bet big on both to make a profit. Software sold will supposedly tell you latest odds on these amazing deals. Pure scam.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Euro McPúnty
    Favourite Euro McPúnty
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 3:08 PM

    Sounds like it would work?

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jacques_DaCosta
    Favourite Jacques_DaCosta
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 5:11 PM

    That market is referred to as a ‘coin toss’ in betting terms.
    Small fractions, no guarantee.
    The average split between over 2.5 and under 2.5 is about 51% against 49%.
    If you bet over 2.5 goals and the score is 2-0 early on then you have to lay it off by backing no more goals to guarantee a profit.
    It’s all about judgement.
    It’s not rocket science.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute windbag
    Favourite windbag
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 2:47 PM

    if its too good to be true etc etc etc….

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan McDermott
    Favourite Ronan McDermott
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 4:16 PM

    Apparently the Irish police abstract only shows stuff over a suspended sentence. I’m in Canada and loads of Irish guys here with drink driving charges or drug possession offences. But other nationalities (including Americans) are turned away at the borders every day over having similar records . True story folks , I don’t understand it either

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan McDermott
    Favourite Ronan McDermott
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 11:35 PM

    Sure. You could visit anyways unless you were silly enough to tell them you’ve got a history. But for work permits or residency they won’t nail you on it but keep in mind if they get suspicious about anything they can contact them for a more detailed one but generally if you’ve been behaving while living here they’ll leave it at that.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jacques_DaCosta
    Favourite Jacques_DaCosta
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 5:03 PM

    There’s only one guaranteed way to make money from racing.
    Laying horses.
    If I own a horse running tonight at 7 o’clock and the bookies have him at 4-1, I tell you that this horse will not win.
    Why? Because I’ve told the jockey not to put him in the race, he will not win, that’s it.
    Now you go on Betfair, stick your head above the parapet and advertise that horse at 8-1, all the money you attract is guaranteed because he’s not going to win.
    Keep it cool, you’ll never get caught.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 4:00 PM

    I don’t really have much sympathy for the people who got scammed to be honest.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jake Race
    Favourite Jake Race
    Report
    Aug 18th 2015, 4:01 PM

    That’s because you are a C.U.N.T

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gaz
    Favourite Gaz
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 10:19 PM

    As an Aussie said to me before us Irish are known as “dodgy and backward”… He wasn’t fair wrong for some of the s c u m that have entered there shores

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall
    Favourite Niall
    Report
    Aug 18th 2015, 3:04 AM

    I’ll agree with the dodgy part but backwards is wrong.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SCO Electrical
    Favourite SCO Electrical
    Report
    Aug 17th 2015, 7:03 PM

    Lets just hope they weren’t naked too

    7
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds