Serial scammer David Alex Harvey admits to selling fake Formula One tickets

Notorious scammer David Alex Harvey has admitted to selling fake Formula One tickets to a fan left heartbroken after he travelled to Melbourne for the event.

David Alex Harvey (left) leaving Melbourne Magistrates' Court with his lawyer on Wednesday after he admitted selling fake F1 tickets. Picture: Miles Proust,

A serial scammer sold bogus Formula One tickets to a fan left heartbroken after he travelled to Melbourne from Western Australia only to be turned away at the gate.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday heard the victim flew across the country for last year’s Grand Prix after buying two hospitality packages for $1500 from businessman David Alex Harvey.

The court heard the racing fan received his tickets via email after buying them online, with promises an itinerary and further instructions would follow.

But there was no follow-up, with emails and phone calls going unanswered.

The man travelled on to Melbourne believing the tickets were legitimate only to be turned away at the entrance by officials who informed him they were fake.

The victim reported the scam to police that same day, with investigators able to track Harvey, 32, through payments made to his bank account.

But it took 10 months before he was arrested and gave a ‘no comment’ interview.

The Formula One fan travelled to Melbourne believing the tickets were legitimate only to be turned away at the entrance. Picture: David Caird

At Wednesday’s hearing Harvey admitted to his offending before he was given a conviction, $1500 fine and ordered to repay his victim.

It's not the first time Harvey has fallen foul of the law, with the court hearing the scammer was last year found guilty of "similar type offending".  It comes after Harvey was separately accused of selling two cricket fanatics illegitimate tickets to a corporate box at the MCG through his company DAZA Events.

Other alleged victims include a prominent Melbourne surgeon who claims he was scammed out of more than $200,000, after buying suites and tickets from Harvey that turned out to be fake.

The surgeon claimed Harvey said he could get him discount sofas as he was the adopted son of retail billionaire Gerry Harvey.

“He’s still now attempting to sell suites and has photoshopped tickets. He’s even targeting children selling fake tickets to Disney on Ice,” he said.

“He says his credit cards aren’t working, he’ll repay the money, but he never does. Other big names have been caught up in this but most people are too embarrassed to come forward.”

One Melbourne businessman Tony Hachem was scammed by a separate man connected to Harvey after purchasing two suites for the footy at the MCG this season.

He was reimbursed almost $20,000 that he had paid.

The court on Wednesday heard Harvey had since sold his business and was living off liquidated earnings in Caroline Springs with his wife and six-month old baby.

Harvey’s lawyer told the court his client wanted to get into insurance work, which the magistrate noted would be difficult given his criminal history.

Harvey is due to return to court later this year.