Street magician pleads guilty in $165k company scam using his bank account
Braydon Taylor pleaded guilty to dealing with stolen funds laundered through his bank account in a $165,492 scam.
Braydon Taylor, a street magician in financial hardship, gave his bank account details to a stranger on WhatsApp. Scammers used his account to steal $165,492 from Lucon Industries, a Ballan employment agency.
Scammers sent a fake email claiming a demolition company had changed its bank details. In January 2025, a Lucon worker transferred the money into Taylor's account, thinking it was real.
Taylor was told to buy gold bullion and hand it to an unknown person. He bought $98,760 from one supplier and $46,420 from another, and handed both over.
On Thursday, the court adjourned to assess a community corrections order before sentencing.
- 165,492.24 dollars
- Amount scammed
- 98,760 dollars
- First gold purchase
- 46,420 dollars
- Second gold purchase
- October 1, 2026
- Plea date
Why it mattersThe case demonstrates how scammers exploit financially desperate people to launder stolen money and evade detection.
AustraliaVictorian businesses remain vulnerable to email fraud; employees must verify account changes through direct contact, not email, to protect company funds.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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