Dianne Garozzo, also known as Dianne Devine, pleads guilty to bracelet fraud

A Sunshine Coast cleaner has been outed for her unsophisticated but “clearly planned” Facebook fraud where she embezzled a grand from an interstate woman over a gold bracelet.

Dianne Lorraine Garozzo, also known as Dianne Devine, faced Caloundra Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner

A court has heard how a Caloundra aged care cleaner told the buyer of a gold necklace she listed for sale to “chill” before she blocked her and embezzled her money.

Dianne Lorraine Garozzo, also known as Dianne Devine, profited more than a grand after duping her interstate buyer out of a nine karat gold piece of jewellery which she listed for sale on March 21 last year.

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell told Caloundra Magistrates Court on Thursday how the 59-year-old scammed her 41-year-old interstate buyer after she pleaded guilty to one count of fraud.

Senior Constable Burrell said the victim and Garozzo agreed on the purchase of a gold bracelet advertised on Facebook marketplace for $1000.

The police prosecutor said the victim initially transferred $50 as a deposit on April 4, 2023 before she sent through an additional $975.50, which included $25.50 postage. This totalled $1025.50.

Garozzo said she would post the piece of jewellery by express post after receiving the payments. The victim followed up with the Caloundra woman asking if it had been sent the next day.

“[Garozzo] abruptly responded to the victim, telling her to ‘chill’,” Senior Constable Burrell said, before the 59-year-old blocked the buyer.

The court heard the 59-year-old then relisted the bracelet on Facebook, with the victim not receiving either the jewellery or her money back.

Garozzo leaving court after her sentence.

Senior Constable Burrell said the Caloundra Criminal Investigation Branch became involved and eventually raided Garozzo’s home on May 9 this year where the gold bracelet was found.

The 59-year-old woman told detectives she regularly sold items on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

She recalled the sale and said she posted it to the victim but could not provide proof this had happened, or even a record of her Facebook conversation with the victim.

Defence lawyer Josh Shanahan said Garozzo had no history of dishonesty on her criminal history and was instructed she was prepared to pay back restitution.

Mr Shanahan said the Caloundra woman had worked in security and cleaning, but was now on the disability support pension.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said while the fraud was unsophisticated, it was “clearly planned” as she had advertised the bracelet online once more to do the charade all over again.

She however took into account her early guilty plea and the medical submissions made by Mr Shanahan.

Garozzo was fined $1000 and ordered to pay back $1025.50 in restitution.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Dianne Garozzo, also known as Dianne Devine, pleads guilty to bracelet fraud