A girlfriend who never existed and fake friends. How Graham became a money mule

Graham Guy fell in love with a 'woman' online but it turned out to be a romance scam. (Supplied) Link copiedShareShare articleWhen Graham Guy died in 2025, he believed he had a long-term girlfriend and some good mates overseas. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The 65-year-old had become the victim of an elaborate romance scam, as he developed dementia in the final years of his life. Graham's former wife, Belinda Guy, who remained his close friend after they separated, told 7.30 he fell in love with a 'woman' he met online in 2022. He would communicate with "Michelle" online each day and believed she lived in the United States. Belinda Guy tried to warn her former husband (left) that he was being scammed by a fake person (right). (Supplied) "They never met in person … but he was infatuated, totally infatuated," Ms Guy told 7.30. "He'd bend over backwards for Michelle." "Michelle" quickly introduced Graham to a network of associates who regularly contacted him on social media and WhatsApp to ask expensive favours, including money for airfares, medical bills and gift cards. Ms Guy said he drained his savings, superannuation and fortnightly pension trying to help his so-called friends. Three cardboard boxes full of various gift cards. (ABC News: Jerry Rickard) "I think he believed that they were real because he did have a good heart." In 2024, the requests took an unusual turn. An acquaintance of Michelle wanted to deposit $27,000 into Graham's bank account, claiming the money was to help an elderly relative. He was instructed to transfer the funds to an international account. Belinda Guy's ex-husband was drained of his savings, superannuation and fortnightly pension through the romance scam. (ABC News: Jerry Rickard) But when he tried to move the money from his NAB account, the bank flagged the transaction as suspicious and blocked the payment. Graham had been tricked into engaging in criminal activity as a money mule. Ms Guy said he would have never knowingly participated in a crime. "He was law-abiding. If he knew that it was an illegal activity, he wouldn't do it," she told 7.30. Belinda Guy says Graham would have never knowingly participated in a crime. (ABC News: Jerry Rickard) AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson, who runs the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre, said a money mule is a person who is "drafted by a third party to utilise their bank account to transfer funds from one end to another". Criminal syndicates recruit mules to help move the proceeds of crime through the banking system. NAB group investigations executive Chris Sheehan told 7.30 the recruitment of scam victims as money mules is a "growing problem". "It's one [problem] across the industry we are talking about and have observed," he said. Mr Sheehan believes criminals are becoming "more ruthless and more innovative" in their attempts to attract mules, because it has become harder for them to set up fake accounts using stolen identities. Scammers are offering hundreds of dollars to rent Australian bank accounts. (ABC News) "Banks have increased their controls to prevent people [from] using stolen identity or identity takeover to onboard as a mule, and the criminals have adapted to that," he said. Two of Australia's big four banks, NAB and ANZ, have recently raised the alarm about a rise in money mule scams. Last year, NAB shut down 9,364 customer profiles due to mule concerns. ANZ flagged around 4,000 "high-risk" accounts for investigation between September 2025 and March 2026. About a third of ANZ customers who received fraudulent funds were international students or unemployed. Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said international students were among the most common targets for mule recruiters. Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson from the AFP. (ABC News: Jerry Rickard) "They get approached and told this is a legitimate exercise, and for a quick $500 we are happy to takeover your bank account and grab your identity documents before you go home," she said. Prospective buyers on social media marketplaces are also offering hundreds of dollars to rent or buy Australian bank accounts. Mules can be charged with money laundering offences, which attract significant penalties, including jail terms ranging from 12 months to life. This month, a 29-year-old man faced court in Melbourne after allegedly being used as a money mule. Alven Yuen faced court accused of negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime. (ABC News) Police allege Alven Yuen was aware he received more than $50,000 in fraudulent funds, but he is not accused of knowing which alleged scam they came from. Through a Mandarin-speaking translator, Mr Yuen indicated to the court he intends to plead not guilty to negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime. It's alleged at least some of the money in Mr Yuen's account was from scam victim Loveeta D'Souza. The Melbourne woman was conned into transfe

A girlfriend who never existed and fake friends. How Graham became a money mule

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