Four New Zealanders have pleaded guilty to fraud after misleading over 30 car buyers in Queensland, presenting vehicles that were less safe than claimed.
A group of four native New Zealanders pleaded guilty in a Queensland court after raking in more than $330,000 and scamming 34 buyers in the state.
The Courier Mail reported that the quartet bought the written-off cars online or through auctions under false names, numbers, email addresses, and accounts, and falsely advertised them as “safe and drivable”.
Kimberley Tina Deans, Wolf Brock Cameron, Dante James Cameron (also known as Andrew Cole), and Wilson Gregory (AKA Elijah Cole) were first charged in 2020 for their scam and have now all pleaded guilty to fraud.
Car buyers were given the wrong impression because they were provided fake registration certificates and VINs of similar cars for sale elsewhere.
It was also reported that some buyers had no idea it was sold under false pretences until the cops notified them.
It was understood by the court that Deans – aged 19 at the time – was in charge of dealing with the money and ads.
Dante Cameron – aged 22 then – was directly involved with the sales interactions, and the money was moved through their account.
Wolf Cameron – aged 22 at the start of the scam – was viewed as the leader of the group, who, along with Deans, gave instructions to Dante Cameron and Gregory – aged 22 at the time.
The court sentenced each member based on their involvement and criminality level.
Wolf Cameron was linked to 13 victims, 11 of whom suffered financial harm in the amount of $112,829.
Deans was involved with most transactions by nature of their role in the syndicate, amounting to $230,989.
Deans was sentenced to five years jail, immediately suspended, with 107 days of presentence custody declared.
Wolf Cameron’s sentence was four years, immediately suspended, whose criminality was viewed as less severe.
Dante Cameron was directly involved in 27 transactions and victims, amounting to $290,799, and sentenced to five years suspended after serving 153 days behind bars.
Gregory seemed to be the least involved and thus received three years jail time, immediately suspended, with 15 days of presentence custody already declared.
A suspended sentence means the offender is free to live in the community, given they comply with the conditions of their sentence.
The four Kiwis were all living together in the southern Brisbane suburb of Regents Park at the time of the scam for almost a year between 2019 to 2020.
Ilana is a Melbourne-based journalist who was previously a copywriter in the Big Apple. Having moved to Melbourne for her Master of Journalism, she has written articles about food, farm machinery, fashion, and now the fast and furious. Her dream car has been a Mini Cooper since the fifth grade, eyeing its style and petite size.
