How former Telstra worker conned Aussie singer Guy Sebastian

Aussie singer Guy Sebastian walked into an event, guitar-in-arm, for what he thought was a Telstra charity gig. The truth proved much more sinister.

EXCLUSIVE

A con artist allegedly duped Guy Sebastian into performing at his young daughter’s birthday after telling the Aussie singer the event was a charity gig, news.com.au can reveal.

Former Telstra salesman Gerard Cecil Vamadevan, 56, was sentenced to a maximum two years jail on Monday at the NSW District Court after pleading guilty to making hundreds of harassing phone calls to 19 separate victims.

The court heard how Vamadevan would tell victims he was either a “talent scout” or a “TV agent for Channel 7” to gain their phone numbers before making “sexually explicit” and “vulgar” anonymous phone calls to them.

Vamadevan worked at Telstra – in co-operate sales - for 15 years. Picture: Facebook

In one phone call, he told a mother he would “rape her daughter and cut her into pieces”.

Vamadevan was also charged with using false identification to commit fraud after he was found to have lied about his persona for several years to which he pleaded guilty.

News.com.au can now reveal Guy Sebastian was also allegedly tricked by Vamadevan’s lies, and also claims was even conned into a private concert at his young daughter’s birthday.

Sebastian’s claims were not part of Vamaddevan’s proceedings, nor was he criminally charged with them, but have come to light following the conclusion of the case.

Channel 7 has previously confirmed they have no affiliation with Vamadevan. Picture: Facebook

Sebastian met Vamadevan while he was working at Telstra.

Vamadevan allegedly told Sebastian that he worked for the telecommunication giant’s “charity arm”.

Vamadevan’s social media is inundated with photos of the pair, including a photo of Sebastian “on our piano at home” posted in 2014.

The court heard how Vamadevan would use social media pictures with Sebastian, other celebrities and business leaders he had met through work to convince his victims of his “connections” to the entertainment industry. There is no suggestion that those celebrities, including Sebastian, were aware of Vamadevan’s wrongdoings.

Sebastian’s manager said the pair knew each other about a decade ago and said the singer was used “for the convicted’s own personal benefit”.

Vamedevan used the photos to convince people of his connections to the entertainment industry. Picture: Facebook

In a statement to news.com.au, a spokeswoman for Telstra said they were “very concerned” about allegations the former employee had “misrepresented his relationship” with the company. Vamadevan worked with the company in corporate sales for 15 years before departing in 2012. The spokeswoman said the birthday party incident occurred after Vamadevan had left the company.

Vamadevan pictured with singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Picture: Facebook

Vamadevan pictured with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Picture: Facebook

“We have previously requested that he not represent that he is associated with us,” the spokesman said.

Vamadevan was sentenced to two years imprisonment, however, can be released after one year and three months on good behaviour. His prison sentence was backdated after spending 29 days in custody after his arrest.

He will be eligible for release on June 30, 2025.

Originally published as How former Telstra worker conned Aussie singer Guy Sebastian