A Melbourne woman who allegedly ran an elaborate Facebook Marketplace scam offering designer fashion for sale and defrauding buyers out of thousands of dollars has been refused bail.
Alana Petridis was arrested at her home in Donvale in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday over several alleged sophisticated social media scams that police say drew in at least 23 victims nationwide.
The Melbourne woman is accused of creating several fake Facebook profiles and posting photos on social media of clothing from renowned Australian fashion labels including Witchery.Credit: Jessica Hromas
On Thursday, Ringwood Magistrates’ Court heard Petridis, 37, was facing 25 counts of obtaining property by deception, though police were gathering more accounts from other alleged interstate scam victims.
The court heard Petridis had a total of more than 250 criminal charges before the courts, including breaching her bail conditions, a history of repeat offending, and driving under the influence of drugs.
Police told the court that Petridis allegedly targeted women on designer buy, swap and sell Facebook pages, using fake profiles and aliases such as “Jess Whealers” to dupe people into transferring money for second-hand items.
Police allege that after her customers purchased items worth thousands of dollars online, Petridis pocketed the money and didn’t send the goods.
Investigators believe there are many other alleged victims across Australia who have not yet reported their experience of being scammed to police, the court heard.
Over more than 40 minutes, police detailed Petridis’ alleged offending to the court, including creating several fake Facebook profiles and posting photos on social media of clothing from renowned Australian fashion labels such as Aje, Camilla, Zimmermann, Alemais, Shona Joy, Witchery, Kookai and Carla Zampatti.
Court documents detailing criminal charges, obtained by this masthead, allege that in one case, Petridis listed a dress by Australian fashion designer Camilla for $500 with the intention of permanently depriving the victim of their money.
In other cases, she is accused of defrauding a victim of hundreds of dollars for popular dresses including items by Australian fashion brand Alemais.
Police allege other victims forked out hundreds of dollars for Zimmerman dresses that never arrived.
It is also alleged she doctored photos to dupe people into transferring money for items that were never sent after payment.
The court heard the women allegedly targeted were in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
When the women became suspicious they were being scammed, Petridis would often block them or send fake receipts of refunds, police allege.
In another incident, Petridis took an online invoice she had altered to a clothing store at Chadstone Shopping Centre, the court was told.
She attempted to return two pairs of jeans worth hundreds of dollars under the name “Catherine” at the shopping centre’s Universal Store, but inquiries by staff found the items were not stocked and the receipt had been falsified, police said.
Charge sheets also show she is accused of going to sporting goods retailer Decathlon in Box Hill five times in less than a week last year, attempting to get refunds for jackets she had not purchased.
The court heard Petridis had a history of addiction to methamphetamine, mental health issues and an acquired brain injury. She had told police she was attempting to pay off a drug debt during the time of her alleged offending.
Police told the court there was an unacceptable risk of Petridis reoffending and any attempts at bail should be rejected.
However, Petridis’ barrister, Stephen O’Connell, argued she should be granted bail and disputed police assertions she was an “unacceptable risk”.
He said she had attempted to turn her life around, seeking treatment for addiction and mental health issues, and recently secured employment at a beauty salon. She was also living with her parents and was a carer for her mother who had a heart condition, he said.
But magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg remanded Petridis in custody, noting she had a “shocking history of offending” that spanned several years.
“This is not merely deliberate offending, this is offending done with some sophistication,” Rozencwajg said. “It involved different bank accounts at various banks, it involved a modus operandi, which is very deliberate. I have no doubt if released back into the community she will continue to reoffend.”
The case was adjourned until June 26.
Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.