A Melbourne model is accused of scamming a hapless victim out of $180,000 in a sneaky alleged email scam – and her former boss is breaking her silence.
Bianca Kowalczyk, 32, is desperately trying to shift the blame to her ex-lover after she was charged with multiple counts of fraud.
Kowalczyk appeared in a Melbourne court on Monday after she allegedly traded $188,070 in suspected profits from crime.
The daring Instagram user also allegedly stole $51,000 in US currency and $90,579 in gold bullion during the alleged three-day fraud in November last year.
Kowalczyk met her co-defendant and ex-boyfriend Harpreet Dhaliwal several months before the alleged crime.
Dhaliwal, 31, is behind bars after being charged with 16 frauds and dealing with the proceeds of criminal charges.
In details relayed during an earlier court hearing, police alleged that an alleged group of fraudsters ‘hacked’ a haulier’s email trail and altered bank account details.
Melbourne model Bianca Kowalczyk has been accused of fraud
Prosecutors alleged that some of the stolen money – from an unidentified victim – was diverted to bank accounts suspected of having been opened by Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk, who has no previous court matters, gave a statement to police before she was charged on May 30 this year.
“I blindly followed him because I thought he loved me…I trusted him,” Kowalczyk said in her statement to police.
In another shocking move, Kowalczyk “could be called as a witness” to reveal the truth about her jailed ex, the court was told.
Lawyers who represented Kowalczyk in a previous hearing claimed that Dhaliwal allegedly “used” his then-girlfriend to “assist in the deception.”
“We (Kowalczyk) participated purely out of our blind love for the co-defendants,” the defense told the court.
‘(Kowalczyk) does not deny attending, opening bank accounts, she does not deny any of that…’
Kowalczyk, who is pushing to have her matter heard in a lower court, was allegedly linked to the alleged crime through WhatsApp messages.
Kowalczyk worked at an exclusive modeling agency.
“(The WhatsApp messages) had a certain flavour… a level of dishonesty or a conspiratorial flavour,” a magistrate said in September.
The court heard Dhaliwal was “very deeply involved in this” but was not the “mastermind”.
“It is devastating for the victim…”, stated the defense.
‘They have professionally fleeced the poor victim… using Dhaliwal in Melbourne, who then recruits her partner, as she thought, to assist her in what she thought were her legitimate transactions…
“Clearly after the event she realizes, she knows, she is devastated by his betrayal… he used her…
“Ultimately, it would be up to whoever discovered the facts to determine whether she was criminally responsible or simply naïve.”
“She just thought she was helping the co-defendant and that it was all legal transactions because he had deceived her… she did what she was told and believed his lies…”
The prosecution had previously claimed there was a “degree of organization involved”.
Kowalczyk allegedly committed multiple frauds
Kowalczyk, whose criminal matters were adjourned on Monday, previously worked as a director at exclusive Sydney-based modeling and events agency Media Belle Productions and Events.
Media Belle boss Dominic Surace told Daily Mail Australia he split from Kowalczyk and was unaware he was facing criminal charges until their mutual departure. .
“Shortly after her appointment, communication with her with useful or significant information ceased, ultimately leading to revelations that Victoria Police had visited her residence confiscating her personal and company mobile phones,” Surace said.
‘Kowalczyk claimed police were investigating an ex-boyfriend and insisted she had committed no crime.
‘Subsequent developments revealed that the police investigation was linked to allegations of fraud…’
Kowalczyk was allegedly caught with more than $90,000 in gold bullion.
Surace, who also runs the Elite Showcase modeling agency, of which Kowalczyk was a director, said the company went out of its way to support the alleged scammer’s “dream job.”
“Unfortunately, despite the extensive support provided and the time invested in helping Kowalczyk, the company is deeply disappointed,” he said.
‘This situation has fostered feelings of disrespect from Kowalczyk, as well as provoked acts of dishonesty, threats and betrayal.
“However, since Kowalczyk’s departure, the company has made significant progress in a number of areas and we are very optimistic about the bright and promising future that awaits us.”
Kowalczyk, from Gowanbrae in Melbourne’s northwest, and Dhaliwal, from Mulgrave in the city’s southeast, will take charge at a later date.