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A Waihi man has been accused of trying to fleece two Trade Me online auction bidders by not handing over the goods for which they had paid.
Barry William Scott, 58, who faces two charges of accessing a computer system with dishonest intent, appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Friday for a depositions hearing.
On March 13, Scott allegedly advertised Motorola E770 SG mobile phones for sale with no intention of delivering them.
Police say he failed to deliver the phones to two successful bidders and made refunds only when they threatened to contact the police.
Adrian Curtis, from Marlborough, took part in the auction on March 13 and was informed on March 16 that he was a successful bidder at $250.
Mr Curtis said that after paying the money into Scott's bank account on March 17, he emailed him at least eight times but received only excuses, such as that the phone he had bought was still coming from Australia.
"It was excuses after excuses. It was only after I placed a negative comment on Mr Scott's selling identity that he was a suspect and threatened to ring the police that he refunded the money on April 21."
Harshal Joshi from Auckland bid for a phone on March 13 at 7pm and was successful at $280.
Mr Joshi emailed Scott when he failed to receive the phone and was told the "wholesaler" from Australia was meant to send the phone directly but Scott would look into it.
"Further emails seeking a refund were totally ignored so I contacted Trade Me staff to complain. After I told Mr Scott I would contact the police, I eventually received a refund on April 26."
Trade Me investigator Sophie Melchior told police prosecutor David Pawson that after negative feedback and complaints from Mr Curtis and Mr Harsal, she conducted an internal investigation.
It revealed that Scott had set up a Trade Me identity - Broni5 - using a false name, Bronwyn Jones. Ms Melchior said in the beginning Scott was selling cheaper items and had positive feedback. He then started selling items at a much higher value.
She concluded that Scott, who had taken part in 34 auctions, had "artificially" improved his own selling rating for future sales.
His participation in the past auctions were done to boost potential bidders' view of his trustworthiness, she said.
It was also clear Scott did not have the phones when he sold them to Mr Curtis and Mr Harsal - a breach of Trade Me rules. Scott had since been de-registered by Trade Me, she said.
Under cross-examination by Scott's lawyer, Craig Horsley, Ms Melchior conceded there was no way to prove Scott had purposely set about to create positive feedback to deceive other people.
Mr Horsley conceded there was a prima facie case to answer and not guilty pleas were entered on both charges. Scott was remanded on bail.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
