Gold Coast pair charged with fraud

Two former employees of a Gold Coast private investigations firm have been charged with money laundering and fraud offences after investors lost more than $700,000.

The charges follow the Crime and Corruption Commission's investigation of a number of Gold Coast companies allegedly involved in cold-calling people about investment schemes.

A 35-year-old man of Helensvale and a 32-year-old woman of Upper Coomera have been charged with fraud and money laundering.

The CCC says the charges relate to the financial management of a company named Tropical Point between February and June in 2011.

Investors in this company had collectively lost more than $700,000, the CCC said.

Employees of the private investigations firm are the first people to be charged since the CCC began targeting cold-call investments on the Gold Coast in June last year.

Both are due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 26.