Stephanie Pholi: Con artist swindles Moruya couple with fake Facebook ad

An aunt and uncle thought they struck Facebook Marketplace gold after finding a cut-price Nintendo Switch they intended to gift their nephew.

Stephanie Pholi was found guilty of the Facebook scam.

An aunt and uncle thought they struck Facebook Marketplace gold after finding a cut-price Nintendo Switch they intended to gift their nephew.

However, instead of uncovering the perfect birthday gift, the couple were duped by a South Coast con artist.

The offending came out during the hearing of 22-year-old Stephanie Rose Pholi in Moruya Local Court on Thursday where she was found guilty of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by means of deception – a charge she had previously pleaded not guilty to.

The court heard the Jervis Bay woman and former banker posted the fake advertisement for the Nintendo Switch in 2023, before it was discovered by a Moruya couple.

They messaged Pholi to negotiate the price, before sending $220 to her bank account, using the BSB and account number she provided them.

Stephanie Pholi’s hearing was held in the Moruya Local Court.

However, the couple never saw the Nintendo Switch, instead, receiving a litany of excuses from Pholi as to why the item had not arrived, directing them to Australia Post.

The court heard during police prosecutor Cory Ware’s examination in chief of the uncle, how he and his wife asked Australia Post of the current whereabouts of the item.

Stephanie Pholi swindled the couple of $220.

“They said there was no record of an item being sent,” the uncle said in court.

The couple reported their suspected scam to police, who sent a Bay and Basin officer to Pholi’s Jervis Bay home.

The court heard Pholi refused to show the officer Facebook messages between her and the buyers during the visit, instead, simply stating “I sent it”.

Pholi claimed in court on Thursday that she sent a tracking number to the couple during Mr Ware’s cross examination, however she failed to present any evidence the number was actually obtained.

Stephanie Pholi falsely advertised a Nintendo Switch.

“Did you bring this tracking number to court?” Mr Ware asked Pholi.

“No,” she replied.

Pholi’s lawyer, Daniel Thompson, said his client was not guilty “as there are a number of ways that a package like this can get lost in the post”.

It was a submission promptly refuted by Magistrate Doug Dick, who said it was clear the 22-year-old woman ripped off the aunt and uncle.

Mr Thompson submitted his client was not capable of such a crime, citing her clean record, young age and employment.

“She relies upon her prior good character, but it’s clear the chase up inquiries were ignored by her and she didn’t produce a tracking number,” Mr Dick said.

Mr Dick found Pholi guilty of the Facebook swindle, before Mr Thompson asked the court to consider a non-conviction.

“This is her first offence and she has a clean record,” he said.

However, Mr Dick said he needed to send a message to wannabe scammers.

“By defending the matter, you’ve shown no remorse,” Mr Dick told Pholi in sentencing.

“It’s a system based on trust and often, people are untrustworthy.”

Pholi was convicted, fined $1000 and ordered to pay $220 compensation.

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