The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is asking for the public’s help in identifying three Auckland people it believes could have information about a criminal syndicate working together to fraudulently obtain nearly $5 million in mortgages.

Last week The SFO filed charges against two women alleging they used fake identity documents to obtain almost $5 million in lending against properties that were not owned by them.

The two women, who have interim name suppression, were arrested following a search warrant in Epsom last week. They appeared in the Auckland District Court last Wednesday on four joint charges of obtaining by deception.

It is alleged they stole the identities of at least three people to dishonestly obtain mortgages against those people’s properties without their knowledge.

It is believed the criminal syndicate went to some lengths to facilitate the offending, including forging residential tenancy records, immigration records, a New Zealand driver licence and used foreign passports.

The syndicate is alleged to have used fictitious addresses, a PO box, phone numbers and email addresses, and set up bank accounts in the names of the victims to receive funds.

Three other people the SFO is wanting to talk to are believed to frequent Albany and St Lukes, the SFO says.

The agency has released images of two men and one woman, who are not either of the two people charged.

Anyone recognising them, or who has information that could help identify them, should contact the SFO.

The defendants’ next scheduled appearance is in the Auckland District Court on Wednesday 26 August.