Joel Ferguson: Serial fraudster guilty of online pets scam
A tatted-up man living with his parents has been exposed as a serial scammer, stealing money from animal lovers and criminals alike in his web of elaborate dodgy deals.
Macarthur
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A 24-year-old man who lives with his parents has been exposed as a serial fraudster, scamming thousands of dollars through dodgy sales of dogs, kittens and furniture, and even posing as a high-profile Sydney lawyer.
Joel Blayden Craig Ferguson, of middle-class Harrington Park in southwest Sydney, has pleaded guilty to a string of fraud offences in which he tugged on the heartstrings of wishful pet owners.
Court documents state Ferguson would monitor Gumtree for ‘wanted pet’ advertisements, in which he would then prey on the target and pose as a breeder.
In April, Ferguson sent photos he had ripped off the internet of a French Bulldog and received $2000 for a sale which never took place.
In May, the 24-year-old contacted a woman after a ragdoll kitten and provided a series of photos of kittens, his driver’s licence and Kittens NSW registration. When the victim said she wanted to back out of the sale, he threatened her with legal action which saw him receive the $700 sale fee shortly after. He later told police he was selling the kittens on behalf of a mysterious cousin, who had fallen out with.
He has also pleaded to two other fraud charges mirroring the scam, where he netted $900.
Police expect more victims to emerge, with the Macarthur Chronicle speaking to Victoria-based Karina Ayling-Lim, 22, who was allegedly targeted by Ferguson on Gumtree on Friday. The 22-year-old said she was looking to replicate her former beloved border collie cross cocker spaniel and was contacted by the man just 10 minutes after she posted the advertisement.
“That should’ve been a red flag straight away,” she said. The alleged victim said he preyed on her vulnerability and even posed as a married couple, sending messages off two phone numbers.
Gumtree wasn’t his only forum, with the unemployed man posting a Facebook Marketplace advertisement selling furniture last October in which he negotiated a sale price of $750 but never delivered the goods. When the deal was being made he said “I am a good person, not a scammer”. He later told police in an interview he had sold the furniture to someone else. He has also pleaded guilty to this fraud.
In January he called an acquaintance who was in police custody on domestic violence allegations and promised he could arrange ‘family friend’ Bryan Wrench, of Murphy’s Law, to represent him for $500.
The victim deposited the cash into an Oran Park ATM days later and received text messages from an person purporting to be Mr Wrench arranging an appointment. The victim ultimately made contact with Mr Wrench who revealed told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.
There is no suggestion Mr Wrench has had any contact with Ferguson or knows him in any way.
Ferguson has also pleaded guilty to intimidation and use carriage service to harass, messaging the victim “you’re gonna get your head caved in trouble making c**t” once he was threatened with police intervention.
The Harrington Park man was arrested after he “forgot” to appear at court, and applied for bail at Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday.
The court heard Ferguson was a problem gambler and was granted strict conditional bail, to not leave the house without his mum, report daily to police and to not enter any licensed premises.
He will return to court for sentencing in coming months.