On May 19, 2000, a missing ATM card set off a strange series of events.
These events led to one of Australia’s most complicated fraud cases and a baffling disappearance.
The father of a Hong Kong exchange student in Brisbane, Australia, reported that the student's 'Bank of East Asia' debit card was stolen.
This missing card, would soon be entangled in a story of massive financial fraud and the mysterious disappearance of Quyen Tu Au.
Who is Quyen Tu Au?
Quyen Tu Au is a Vietnamese immigrant who relocated to South Australia in 1985.
He lived in an apartment at Rosewater Lodge, which is less than a thirty-minute drive from Adelaide, the lively capital city of South Australia.
Quyen was a private person who mostly kept to himself but had a small group of friends he visited from time to time.
Even though he was a reserved person, the small circle of friends he had wasn't considered trustworthy by the investigators working on his mysterious disappearance.
The Fraudulent Scheme Begins
On May 19, 2000, Quyen left his Rosewater Lodge residence and traveled to Brisbane, Queensland, for a holiday.
While in Brisbane, Quyen made a big mistake that would lead to serious consequences.
During his stay, he managed to steal the debit card of the Hong Kong exchange student and somehow got the card's PIN number.
Quyen initially used the stolen card on July 28, 2000.
To his surprise, the transaction was successful.
This marked the beginning of a series of fraud that would lead to major financial losses.
Quyen started withdrawing small amounts of money daily from different ATMs run by the National Bank of Australia (NAB) to avoid being caught.
The card had a computer error that allowed for unlimited ATM withdrawals when used.
Over the next 18 days, Quyen made a total of 467 transactions.
Surveillance cameras recorded him at ATMs 41 times, and he withdrew a total of $327,120.
However, his criminal activities came to a sudden stop on August 15, 2000, when Quyen disappeared without a trace.
Security footage from a Port Adelaide bank’s ATM at 12:21 p.m. on August 15, 2000, shows Mr. Au withdrawing $6,000 with the stolen debit card.
Around 12:54 p.m. on the same day, Mr. Au called a friend from his mobile phone.
This was the last time he was heard from by anyone close to him.
The Search and the Growing Suspicion
For nearly two years, Quyen's disappearance went unnoticed by his friends and family.
The first report came from the Major Fraud Section of the South Australian Police.
They grew increasingly worried about Quyen’s safety because of the ongoing misuse of the stolen card.
Remarkably, the stolen card was still used even after Quyen disappeared
Between August 15, 2000, and October 19, 2000, the card was used in a staggering 6,330 transactions, totaling $5,999,200.
This large-scale fraud raised concerns with the banks, leading to increased scrutiny.
On August 19, 2000, an ATM at a shopping plaza swallowed the card, which led to police involvement.
An Thanh Tran, a friend of the missing Quyen, was arrested in connection with the use of the card.
The Involvement of Acquaintances
Quyen was close to An Thanh Tran’s brother, An Man Tran, and often stayed at his home.
Days before his disappearance, Quyen had moved some belongings, including the stolen debit card, to An Man Tran’s home.
He had even purchased an $18,000 Mitsubishi Verada the day before he went missing.
On the day Quyen disappeared, his friends started acting suspiciously.
Within three days of his disappearance, the registration of Quyen’s new car was fraudulently transferred to one of his friends.
On September 1, the Mitsubishi Verada was traded in for a new Landcruiser.
Despite this suspicious action, none of his friends reported Quyen’s disappearance.
This action, coupled with their continued use of the stolen card, led the police to doubt that Quyen had willingly shared the card with them.
Police Investigation and Major Discoveries
At first, the police thought Quyen might have fled the country or gone into hiding.
However, there was no evidence of him leaving Australia, renting vehicles, opening new bank accounts, or contacting his family.
His belongings were still in his apartment, and the stolen money wasn’t enough to support a new life without more transactions.
This led to the conclusion that foul play was involved.
In November 2000, police searched 17 properties in Adelaide, looking for the people involved and any remaining stolen cash.
They found $4.07 million hidden under the floorboards of a home in Kilburn, while $1.8 million was still unaccounted for.
The suspects, including An Man Tran were arrested.
However, the investigation continued, as the search for Quyen or his body was still unsolved.
In 2003, an anonymous tip led police to believe that Quyen’s body was buried under An Man Tran’s home.
This was the same place where the $4.07 million was found.
The house had been renovated shortly after Quyen’s disappearance, with tiles laid over the floorboards.
Despite a six-hour forensic search with probes and heavy equipment, only animal bones were found.
Quyen’s body was not discovered.
The Ongoing Mystery and Call for Help
To this day, the mystery of Quyen Tu Au’s disappearance remains unsolved.
Police believe he was likely murdered after refusing to surrender the stolen card.
The precise details of his death, including where and how he was killed, remain unclear.
Was his body moved after the police search?
Were the crime scene and burial site meticulously cleaned?
Did Quyen meet his end at his friend's home or elsewhere?
Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins remains hopeful, saying, “We believe this case is solvable. We only need one final piece of information from the right caller to complete the puzzle.”
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Quyen Tu Au, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit their website https://crimestopperssa.com.au/
A $200,000 reward is offered for any information that leads to finding Quyen’s remains or for the conviction of those responsible for his murder.
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