Police may probe Ricky Nixon for years of alleged fraud

AFL identity Ricky Nixon stands accused of cheating footy fans and charities over years, amid claims he sold fake memorabilia and staged a sham children’s cancer fundraiser.

Ricky Nixon. Picture Norm Oorloff

A police probe into embattled AFL identity Ricky Nixon could be widened to cover years of alleged fraud as investigators dig deeper into a premiership memorabilia scam.

The Herald Sun can reveal Nixon stands accused of cheating footy fans and charities over several years.

An ardent Richmond supporter paid Nixon $550 last year for a footy he was told was signed by the premiership-winning team.

The fan, who did not want to be named, is certain the signatures are fake and has reported it to police. “It’s the lowest act,” he said.

“I thought, given he is a big name, he would have had the contacts and it was all good.

“To forge signatures is terrible. I just want my money back.”

There are also allegations a high-profile footy fundraiser held by Nixon in 2019 for a children’s cancer charity was a sham.

The Kicking for Cancer charity match at Trevor Barker Oval was advertised as raising funds for children’s cancer charity MyRoom.

Ricky Nixon. Picture: AAP

A mad Tigers supporter paid Nixon $550 last year for a footy he was told was signed by the premiership winning team.

A source involved in the event alleged the funds were never donated and it’s understood formal arrangements with the charity were never made.

Nixon posed up for photographs with young cancer survivors in his promotion of the charity match.

One told the Herald Sun he felt used by Nixon, claiming the ex-player agent met with a “really old lady” who handed over Richmond merchandise in a seemingly shady deal in the carpark of Eastland Shopping Centre that year.

“He uses kids with cancer like me as a scapegoat to build his former self back,” the cancer survivor claimed.

A team of detectives based at Box Hill is investigating claims Nixon duped ­multiple Melbourne fans with fake 2021 premiership memorabilia he claimed was being sold to benefit a children’s charity.

At least 20 Sherrin balls were sold by Nixon for $575 apiece, despite players only signing 10 official footballs.

A team of detectives is investigating claims Nixon duped multiple Demons fans with fake 2021 premiership memorabilia he claimed was for a children’s charity. Picture: Ellen Smith

Players including Christian Petracca and Charlie Spargo have confirmed they never signed the balls – some which had No.8 next to Spargo’s ­signature when he wears No.9.

Most buyers are still waiting on refunds by Nixon, who has previously stated he was not under investigation.

Several footballs have been submitted for forensic examination.

It’s understood detectives will focus on the 2021 fraud allegations against Nixon before examining historical claims.

It comes as Nixon did an about face in court on Thursday, abandoning his fight over unpaid parking tickets and copping a fine three times the original cost.

Nixon was battling three parking fines for his mobile Covid-19 “ambulance” worth $331, but was slapped with $989 in costs instead after backing down from the year-long dispute on Thursday.

The 58-year-old earlier pleaded not guilty and told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court he was “trying to do a community service” and thought the three fines between December and January were “a bit ordinary”.

But barrister Basil Stafford, for Port Phillip Council, told the court on Thursday that Nixon had a last-minute change of heart, notifying him of a guilty plea 90 minutes earlier.

Nixon, who did not appear for the hearing, was handed a $370 fine and $619 in costs to pay for the prosecution’s preparations for contest.

Judicial Registrar Barry Johnstone warned that “people should go into contest with their eyes wide open”.

“It’s all very well if you win but if you lose … then it can have cost consequences,” he said.

Originally published as Police may probe Ricky Nixon for years of alleged fraud