Deception and Betrayal: The Tangled Web Woven by Melissa Caddick

Melissa Caddick’s Disappearance and Investigations

Fraudster Melissa Caddick’s disappearance in November 2020 led police to investigate her first husband, Anthony Byron Caddick, as she was known for her lies and deceit, including attempting to ruin her ex-husband’s life.

Melissa Caddick, 49, was under investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for embezzling millions from clients who believed she was investing their money in stocks at the time of her disappearance.

Her second husband, Anthony Koletti, reported her missing 30 hours after her home was raided, with her phone, wallet, and keys left behind.

The Unraveling of a Massive Ponzi Scheme

Her family and friends were unaware of the massive Ponzi scheme she had been running, with some falling victim to her $23 million fraud. Neither of her husbands was involved in or knew about her criminal activities or disappearance, but people still reported her toxic relationship with her first husband to the police.

In 2012, after moving to the UK with Tony Caddick, Melissa was caught having a secret rendezvous in Paris with Koletti, who would become her second husband.

After being confronted about the affair, she emptied their joint bank account, returned to Sydney with their son, and began tarnishing her husband’s reputation by accusing him of the things she was guilty of herself. Friends and family eventually learned the truth.

Victims and Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Fraud

Melissa Caddick’s web of lies began to unravel when she returned to Sydney in 2012. She defrauded her friend Kate Horn and others, using the stolen money to fund her luxurious lifestyle, including renting an upscale home, buying expensive clothes and jewelry, and providing her second husband with a sports car and lavish vacations.

Caddick, who had been featured on the cover of IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) magazine a decade prior, fabricated lies about her departure from Wise Financial in 2004 to explain her extravagant lifestyle.

False Claims and Deceptive Practices

She claimed to have made $86 million from a superannuation program, received a large settlement for a sexual harassment lawsuit, and even boasted about stealing the business from Wise’s elderly owner.

Despite her deceit, a former employee who had worked with her at Wise could have exposed her lies, but Caddick claimed her fortune came from Bitcoin investments.

Ironically, she had written an article in 2004 outlining the “golden rules” for finding a trustworthy financial adviser, warning against people like herself.

Caddick’s deceptive practices included operating without a license, falsifying fees, fabricating qualifications, and having no company accreditation. However, it was too late to stop her.

The Tragic End and Upcoming Inquest

In February 2021, her partial remains were found in a washed-up running shoe.

An inquest into her presumed death is scheduled for September, which will further investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the extent of her fraudulent activities.