‘Greedy, despicable, dishonest’ online cheat manages to escape jail for stealing from phone buyers
A SERIAL scammer and pregnant mum of four has been labelled a “liar”, “despicable” and “extremely dishonest” for ripping off phone buyers on Facebook and Gumtree.
South East
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A SERIAL scammer has been labelled a “liar”, “despicable” and “extremely dishonest” for ripping off phone buyers on online selling sites.
On Mondaythe heavily pregnant 30-year-old woman narrowly avoided jail after pleading guilty to three scamming crimes.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard Kate Maree Baddack would use Gumtree and Facebook to rip people off.
The mother of four, soon to be five, children would respond to people looking to buy mobile phones online, and set up a sale.
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In June last year she did a deal with a Gumtree buyer, offering to sell an iPhone for $430, and providing bank details to the purchaser.
But the iPhone was never sent, with a fake tracking number given and repeated follow-up refund requests unanswered.
Then in August she carried out a similar scam, this time on Facebook, arranging to meet in person to hand over a phone after a $360 payment had been sent.
She never turned up.
And in January she cheated another potential buyer, who didn’t get the phone they bought through Facebook for $370.
Police got involved and Baddack was arrested.
Her defence lawyer said she committed the crimes because as a mother-of-four she needed the money for her family.
Baddack told the court she expected to give birth within a few weeks and was in a stable relationship with a war veteran.
The court heard she has a very long list of priors for dishonesty crimes.
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani said Baddack “was an old hand at it” when describing her “disgraceful” offending.
She said she really deserved a short, sharp stint in jail, but instead imposed a heavy fine due to her current situation.
“She is a liar, (this was) really despicable behaviour,” Ms Bazzani said.
“It is greedy, despicable, dishonest.
“She captures victims unawares and abuses mediums like Gumtree.”
Baddack was convicted and given a $2000 fine.