Court Hears Of Online Ad Scam

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday July 23, 2008

By PAUL McINERNEY

A SOPHISTICATED online advertising scam netted an organised gang more than $54,000 from dozens of victims, Wollongong Local Court heard yesterday.

The man police allege was the mastermind behind the scam, Rodney Worth, was on parole at the time after a jail term for similar offences.

Worth, 41, of Griffin St, Warrawong, has pleaded not guilty to 53 charges of obtaining money by deception in 2007 and early 2008.

Legal Aid solicitor Melia Mullard told the court her client maintained his innocence and claimed two co-accused were responsible for fraudulently obtaining $54,690.

However, police allege that although his co-accused were the face of the illicit operation, Worth was the principal behind the frauds.

Police facts tendered to the court said several victims reported incidents of fraud throughout 2007 and early 2008.

All the victims had placed online wanted advertisements in various farm and recreational machinery publications seeking vehicle parts and other goods.

After posting the advertisements the victims were allegedly contacted by Worth who indicated he had the desired item for sale.

Payments into designated bank accounts were then arranged.

On February 18, police arrested an alleged member of the gang and charged him with 23 offences, before he implicated Worth.

On May 20, police executed a search warrant of Worth's Griffin St home, where they seized a computer hard drive, several mobile phones and documents allegedly related to the frauds.

A total of 53 victims had been identified and only $4000 had been recovered, the court was told.

Magistrate Paul Johnson refused Worth bail and remanded him in custody to appear in Wollongong Local Court on July 29.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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