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The 'elaborate' scam carried out by tradie and mate to pocket $2250


A cafe on the Gold Coast has been scammed out of more than $2000 by a tradie and his mate who devised an elaborate trick at the EFTPOS machine to confuse staff.

The alleged incident happened at Caffe Republic in Southport on Saturday morning, but the ploy was captured on CCTV, showing one of the men changing bank cards halfway through the transaction.

According to cafe owner Peter Dufty, one of the men took the EFTPOS machine out of the hands of the staff “for security reasons”, then altered the cost of his coffee and cake order from $25 to $2250, which he charged to a stolen card.

He then asked for a refund, but then said he had to go to work – leaving it to his mate to complete the scam by charging it back to a second card, meaning he still walked away with $2250 in the bank.

According to the cafe owner, the man took the EFTPOS machine out of the hands of the staff, then altered the cost of his coffee and cake order from $25 to $2250. Source: 7News
According to the cafe owner, the man took the EFTPOS machine out of the hands of the staff, then altered the cost of his coffee and cake order from $25 to $2250. Source: 7News
The man’s friend was allegedly left to complete the scam by charging the $2250 back to a second credit card. Source: 7 News
The man’s friend was allegedly left to complete the scam by charging the $2250 back to a second credit card. Source: 7 News

“When we spoke to the bank they said they’d heard of it happening, and it’s happening quite a bit,” Mr Dufty told 7News.

“There’s a couple of blokes out there who are doing their best to ruin small businesses that are working hard for their money and to support the local economy.”

The CCTV vision has been shared thousands of times on social media, leaving Mr Dufty hoping that someone will recognise the pair and report them to police.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.

‘There’s a couple of blokes out there who are doing their best to ruin small businesses that are working hard for their money,’ cafe owner Peter Dufty said. Source: 7News
‘There’s a couple of blokes out there who are doing their best to ruin small businesses that are working hard for their money,’ cafe owner Peter Dufty said. Source: 7News