Nathan Michael Dawes faces Biloela court for online drone scam

A Central Queensland man used a Gumtree ad to fleece a victim of thousands of dollars during an online drone selling scam. Here’s how the crime unfolded.

Nathan Michael Dawes pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on February 8, 2023, to fraud.

A Central Queensland man has faced court after he admitted to being involved in an online drone selling scam.

Nathan Michael Dawes, 37, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on February 8 to fraud.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said the victim responded to an advertisement placed on Gumtree (an Australian online marketplace) by Dawes on April 28 last year.

Dawes advertised a drone for sale for $2000.

Mr Boyd said Dawes told the victim the drone “had just been sold” and the victim then offered to pay an extra $300 if Dawes sold it to him.

Dawes agreed and provided his bank details for the funds to be transferred to.

The victim made a cash deposit of $2300.

On May 4, the victim received a package in the mail from Dawes.

“The package contained a book and not a drone,” Mr Boyd said.

When the victim contacted Dawes about this, Dawes said: “Ah, f--- yeah, she sent the wrong one to the wrong person. I’m leaving work now, I’ll go to the post office and fix it up for heaven’s sake. I’ll call you in an hour.”

Mr Boyd said the victim received numerous other messages over the following days, but Dawes eventually stopped communicating with him.

The prosecutor said on November 18, Dawes attended Biloela Police Station and participated in a record of interview.

“During the interview (Dawes) stated that around the time of the offence he was involved in online scams involving the sale of drones with his associate,” Mr Boyd said.

Dawes was subsequently charged.

The court heard Dawes had stealing and fraud offences on his criminal history.

A self-represented Dawes told Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale he had made “silly mistakes”.

Ms Beckinsale replied: “It’s not just a mistake, you’re ripping off someone for a lot of money.”

Dawes said he was willing to pay restitution.

Ms Beckinsale said with Dawes’ history, a term of imprisonment was appropriate.

She sentenced him to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months.

Dawes was ordered to pay $2300 restitution and a conviction was recorded.