A former VIP gambler has-been jailed for conning two guys she fulfilled on Tinder out-of a combined $790,000 and threatening certainly the girl subjects he might possibly be injured unless he stored pouring money into the woman phony investments.
Jocelyn Zakhourwas living at Melbourne’s top casino and was a high-roller within Mahogany place when in 2018 she simultaneously fleeced the males and gambled out all cash playing baccarat.
Tinder fraudster Jocelyn Zakhour was jailed for 4? many years Credit: Nine Information
One victim were “ruined” by his involvement with Zakhour, County Court judge Gregory Lyon said, as he transported her $729,000 in a few money after she initially advised your to invest in a blueberry farm she reported she ran. She have assured however triple their cash nevertheless the story towards farm ended up being a lie.
Zakhour after threatened the guy, saying he, his ex-wife and their kiddies would be injured by farm people if he don’t keep spending their revenue, concise he had been too scared to remain at his room. “these individuals need her techniques,” she informed your.
After getting repeatedly threatened and blackmailed, the man presently has no cash, are “psychologically scarred”, his family members relationships is damaged in which he suffered a debilitating swing.
“the main point is, Ms Zakhour, he has got missing every little thing,” assess Lyon informed the sobbing swindler on Tuesday.
Zakhour lied to the lady second victim, a financial planner, that her parents ran takeaway stores and a farm interstate and she necessary cash to cover staff members. The guy settled the lady $61,000 in two instalments.
Assess Lyon jailed Zakhour, 41, for 4? ages after she pleaded responsible to six counts of acquiring economic positive aspect by deception, three of blackmail and two of extortion with threats to create harm.
She must serve a couple of years and eight months before she is qualified to receive parole.
Assess Lyon said Zakhour callously abused the two people beneath the ruse of romantic interactions after fulfilling on Tinder. The offending was chronic, overlapping and had a devastating influence on the victims.
“I can merely consider which you utilized the online dating application as a hunting-ground to search out 
and take advantage of their subjects,” the judge stated.
“It was a ruthless exploitation and you’ve got busted the ability of both boys to be able to believe those around all of them.”
Zakhour have a gaming addiction, the judge read, as she believed gambling assisted her set previous issues behind their. While staying in Lebanon in her own 20s she was kidnapped by their subsequently partner and used in Syria until the girl mothers purchased the girl production. She have expected to winnings at betting to pay for their mothers back once again.
Despite their habits and economic troubles Crown enticed this lady to become a VIP associate in the Mahogany area, Judge Lyon said.
After the girl arrest she informed police initial target would be to blame for their predicament because he had been “thus silly” in trusting this lady lays, although she later on retracted the comment. She in addition informed police she regretted creating nothing to show after gambling aside all revenue.
She’s got since paid the males back once again about 10 percent of what they forgotten.
Assess Lyon stated a prison name got truly the only best discipline but discovered Zakhour have close possibilities for rehab for the reason that stronger help network and treatment plan for mental health difficulties.
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