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Man’s elaborate fashion designer scam targeting the elderly


A man pretending to be an international fashion designer has hatched an elaborate scam to fleece elderly Brisbane residents out of thousands of dollars.

The man has been approaching residents asking for directions to the airport. He then tells them tells a sob story about needing to fly home to Italy before somehow convincing his vulnerable victims to “lend” him money because his credit card is not working, detectives say.

The man promises to repay them when he returns home and offers often fake designer bags and clothes as a gift.

A man claiming to be an Italian fashion designer is scamming elderly Brisbane locals out of thousands, offering fake designer bags and clothes as a gift for the ‘loan’. Source: Getty, file
A man claiming to be an Italian fashion designer is scamming elderly Brisbane locals out of thousands, offering fake designer bags and clothes as a gift for the ‘loan’. Source: Getty, file

It’s believed he is targeting suburbs around the Brisbane airport, with numerous people claiming to have been approached at Ascot, Clayfield, Hendra, Wynnum, and Manly.

“These kind-hearted people have then gone to their bank, withdrawn thousands of dollars and given the money to him,” Queensland police said in an online statement.

Police want people to warn their parents and grandparents and are calling for any victims to come forward.

“We want to make sure this man doesn’t get his hands on any more money from someone’s nest egg, so we’re asking Brisbane residents to speak with their parents and grandparents to let them know what’s happening to other unsuspecting folks in the hope that they’ll be well prepared to smell this rat from a mile away if he ever crosses their path,” they said.

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

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