A man who allegedly used a number of passports from different countries in various aliases has been refused bail by Justice Peter Salmon in the High Court at Auckland.
Marco Dawson, in his mid-20s, was travelling on an Australian passport when he was arrested at Auckland Airport in late May trying to leave the country on an open ticket.
Dawson is alleged to have attempted to defraud New Zealanders out of more than $400,000.
He is said to have obtained a total of $320,000 but a bank recovered $210,000.
One of the frauds he was alleged to have been involved in concerned an elaborate mail-order cookbook scam in the Wellington area.
Dawson, who faces numerous charges involving fraud, passport and driving licence offences, is to appear at a depositions hearing in the Otahuhu District Court next month.
Crown prosecutor Mike Heron told Justice Salmon that there was an "immense" risk that Dawson would jump bail.
Dawson, Mr Heron said, was arrested in New South Wales in November 1998 on a passport in the name of Morgan.
Though that passport and another found in his possession were confiscated, he managed to leave Australia on a different one.
"In summary, the accused can and does move between countries and around the world with ease under different identities and terms of bail are no barrier to him."
Dawson's lawyer, Rob Weir, disputed the figures the Crown alleged were involved. He said Dawson could provide a cash recognizance of $10,000 and a further surety of $50,000 to ensure he remained in the country.
But Justice Salmon said he did not share Mr Weir's confidence.
If the police allegations were substantiated at trial, "it would be apparent that Dawson was a very accomplished confidence man able to change his identity at will and obtain passports in different names without difficulty."
The judge said that after the depositions hearing, when the evidence against Dawson would be much clearer, both the Crown and the defence would be in a better position to determine what attitude to take if a further bail application were made.
Asked by Justice Salmon as to their views on the proceedings being reported by the press, neither Mr Heron nor Mr Weir objected.
No bail for man accused of scam
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