Woman admits scamming millions through dating site
An Australian woman has admitted to preying on lonely older men and scamming millions of dollars from them through online dating sites.
Mother-of-four Sanaa Derbas left some of the victims with barely enough money to eat from their pension.
The court heard Ms Derbas talked her first victim into handing over more than $1.7 million between 2008 and 2009.
A second victim was duped out of $186,000, the third deposited $87,000 into her account in 2013 and the fourth parted with almost $75,000 taking the total to more than $2.2 million.
Ms Derbas used the online dating sites to contact the men, pleading for financial help.
In one text she sent to victim JR she wrote, “I love you, can't wait to be with you. I haven't eaten since yesterday.”
“My pension here 2 day can spare 100 for yr tucker. Loving U as ever X,” he replied.
Days later, she brazenly asked for more money.
“My darling. Wish I was able to help. Hunting for a roof to sleep under. Love U, baby XX,” she wrote in another text.
Derbas fronted a packed courtroom on Monday but did her best to avoid the waiting media outside the courtroom.
Her partner, who pushed journalists out of the lift, was captured giving cameras the middle finger as Derbas tried to hide her face.
The mother-of-four pleaded guilty to her charges and will now face a maximum of 10 years in jail for each offence.
She'll return to court for sentencing in February next year.
News break – August 22
