This story caught my eye not just because of the crime, but because of how it started—with someone who was once a victim.

Dennis Nguyen, a former banker from Australia, has just been sentenced to 18 months in prison after stealing nearly half a million Australian dollars from unsuspecting customers. What’s wild is that Nguyen didn’t start out as a scammer—he actually lost AUD 20,000 to a crypto scam back in 2021. And instead of learning from it, he flipped sides.

At the time, Nguyen was working at National Australia Bank (NAB). After his loss, he used his inside access and knowledge of the banking system to launch his own scheme. He stole customer data, opened fake accounts at Commonwealth Bank, and started funneling large sums from NAB to these accounts. His targets? Home loan customers who had made extra repayments—people less likely to notice a chunk of money missing right away.

Two major transfers—AUD 70,000 and AUD 50,000—were completed before the victims noticed. NAB stepped in, reimbursed the funds, and fired Nguyen in November 2021. But the story didn’t end there.

A year later, Nguyen landed a job at Judo Bank and picked up right where he left off. One of his worst offenses involved a customer with multiple sclerosis, who had difficulty remembering conversations. He spoke to her twice and then emptied her term deposit—AUD 167,500—straight into his own ANZ account. No fake accounts. Just straight-up theft.

When Judo Bank questioned him, Nguyen denied everything and tried to shift the blame to the victim. They fired him and reported him to the police.

Then came the final chapter. Nguyen took on a fake identity—posing as a Judo Bank manager named “Patrick”—and started writing fake reviews on comparison sites. He claimed he could offer better interest rates if customers reached out to him directly. One person transferred AUD 200,000 (which Judo Bank later reimbursed), and another couple nearly sent AUD 500,000. They backed out only because Nguyen slipped up and used his real name in an email.

In total, Nguyen scammed AUD 489,000. During sentencing, Judge Samantha Marks acknowledged his troubled upbringing—an alcoholic, abusive father and a life shaped by gambling—but said the crimes were too serious to overlook. Nguyen pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and three of theft. He’s now serving 18 months and could be eligible for parole in September 2026.

This is a reminder that the damage from scams can go far beyond lost money. Sometimes, they twist people entirely—and leave destruction on both sides of the scam