Thomas O’Grady: Batemans Bay man scams $1009 from man in hospital

A south coast scammer has stolen more than $1000 from a hospitalised man’s bank account, leaving the message “f**k you” in the transaction.

Thomas O'Grady stole a total of $1009.

A scammer has been busted after stealing more than $1000 from a hospitalised south coast man’s bank card, leaving the message “f--k you” in the transaction details, a court has heard.

The fraud saw Thomas O’Grady, 27, wind up in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, pleading guilty to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by means of deception.

Documents tendered to the court reveal the Batemans Bay man gained access to an IMB bank card by “unknown means” on September 15 last year, with the card belonging to a hospitalised man.

Agreed facts state O’Grady used PayID on his mobile phone to transfer $1000 to his personal account from the victim’s account, while leaving a message in the transfer details stating “f--k you”.

O’Grady did not personally know the victim.

Thomas O’Grady faced Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

Documents did not reveal if O’Grady spent the stolen $1000, however they revealed just two days later, the 27-year-old transferred a further $9 into his account.

Each transfer stated it was completed by a “TOGRADY”.

The next day, the hospitalised victim’s wife attempted to purchase goods using the card, however it was declined.

Agreed facts state she visited the Batemans Bay IMB branch, who informed her the card had been scammed.

The fraud was reported to Batemans Bay police who began investigating the victim’s bank statements, leading back to O’Grady’s address.

Following investigations on November 23 last year, police visited O’Grady and when asked whether he transferred money from the victim’s account, he replied “no comment”.

O’Grady was arrested and charged.

In Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, O’Grady’s lawyer Daniel Turner said his client was ready for sentencing and was aware transferring the funds was illegal.

Magistrate Doug Dick said the stolen funds needed to be paid back, before convicting O’Grady, sentencing him to a two year community corrections order and fining him an additional $500.

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Originally published as Thomas O’Grady: Batemans Bay man scams $1009 from man in hospital