Aug 10, 2026 – 5.00amOn May 25, lawyer Adrian Hawkes was visited by Elijah O’Dempsey, a 22-year-old from Bundaberg who had recently been discharged from the Australian Defence Force.O’Dempsey had deposited the majority of his $250,000 savings, which included a compensation payment, into a fixed-income product. He thought it was safe, but the young Queenslander became concerned after several attempts to withdraw his money were blocked, forcing him to seek legal help.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Jonathan ShapiroSenior reporterJonathan Shapiro writes about banking and finance, specialising in hedge funds, corporate debt, private equity and investment banking. He is based in Sydney.Fetching latest articles
Inside James Mawhinney’s rinse and repeat with new missing millions
The investments spruiker has spent the last five years trying to clear his name, after the collapse of his last moneymaking scheme. History is repeating itself.
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