Scott Angus Loveday pleads guilty for role in ‘intricate’ Spotlight fraud

A member of a scamming ring managed to use the same method to trick staff in Hervey Bay and Bundaberg multiple times. Here’s how he was caught:

A former bus driver was involved in an “intricate operation” that defrauded thousands of dollars from Spotlight stores across Wide Bay using doctored ‘click and collect’ receipts.

A former bus driver was involved in an “intricate operation” where Spotlight stores across Wide Bay were defrauded of thousands through the use of doctored click and collect receipts.

Scott Angus Loveday pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday to charges including fraudulently using false records and stealing.

Police prosecutor Carl Spargo told the court Loveday and two associates targeted Spotlight stores in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay with the scam throughout May 2023.

The group stole items from the stores, then doctored click and collect receipts to include the details and cost of the stolen items and went back to the stores to claim a refund.

While the total amount of stock stolen from the stores was unknown, the group was able to raise at least $8,291 in fraudulent refunds through the scam.

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The court heard Loveday, 58, was charged with defrauding the Bundaberg Spotlight store on three occasions during which he went to the front counter of the store carrying the stolen items in a reusable Coles bag.

He showed a click and collect receipt on his mobile phone which contained item descriptions matching the stolen items, and refunds totalling $1,194 were paid to a debit card which had previously been used by one of Loveday’s associates.

Loveday defrauded Bundaberg Spotlight of $1,194 and was foiled on his third attempt when staff told him they had become aware of the scam.

Loveday signed a refund receipt using his own name, and provided a mobile phone number that was linked to his name on the police database.

After successfully obtaining fraudulent refunds from the same store on May 19 and 21, Loveday was declined on the third occasion on May 23.

The staff member told Loveday the store had become aware of the scheme and changed its refund policy, following which Loveday left the store carrying the stolen items.

In a separate incident, Loveday walked out of Bundaberg Coles with $500 worth of goods in a trolley without making any attempt to pay for the items.

Police identified Loveday through CCTV footage and the refund receipts and interviewed him at his home on June 11.

During the interview Loveday told police a “mate” had asked him to refund some items to Spotlight, but Loveday could not provide his name saying he only met him a few times.

Regarding the Coles theft, Loveday admitted to police the vehicle sighted at Coles transporting the items was his, but said he frequently picks up mates at the supermarket and denied stealing the groceries.

Representing himself, after pleading guilty to all offences Loveday told the court that while he had been a bus driver for 23 years, he had gone through some “tough times” in 2023 when he became unable to work due to some unspecified medical problems and had also begun drinking too much.

Loveday told the court he was "a bit lonely" after being unable to work and seemed to suggest he became involved in the scam as a way of making friends.

Loveday declined to comment on how he became involved in the scam when asked by magistrate Edwina Rowan but seemed to suggest he had done so as a way of making friends which he found difficult due to the prevalence of social media.

“I was a bit lonely and trying to find someone to confide in and stuff like that,” Loveday said.

“Normally, in the old days before ... I worked hard and would go down to the hotel and find some friends down there.

“But it’s not the way to go anymore ... all this social media and all those things blurs everything else out.”

Loveday was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and pay $1,194 in restitution to Spotlight and $500 to Coles.

He was also fined $200 for failing to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 4 and convicted of three counts of fraudulently using any record which is false, two counts of fraud - dishonestly gaining benefit/advantage, and one count each of failing to appear in accordance with undertaking, attempted fraud - dishonestly gain benefit/advantage and stealing.

Convictions were recorded.

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