Two brothers swindled Facebook Marketplace sellers out of more than £30,000 by using a counterfeit banking app to deceive victims into handing over costly goods without receiving any payment. When their scheme was uncovered, they resorted to threatening behaviour or simply fleeing with the stolen items, which included watches, phones and laptops.
Bernie McDonagh, 20, and Thomas McDonagh, 23, from Flintshire, carried out a string of frauds across Cardiff and parts of England in 2023, using a fake account to approach sellers on social media and express interest in high-value goods. They would then turn up at sellers’ addresses and make off with the items while duping victims into believing payment had been made.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court was told that Bernie McDonagh targeted 25 victims in total, with a particular focus on portable, high-value items such as watches, phones and laptops.
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He would visit sellers at their homes, “haggle” over the asking price, present a fraudulent driving licence bearing a false name, and display a fake Metro banking app on his phone purporting to show that funds had been transferred.
Judge Christopher Felstead said: “Needless to say you never had any intention whatsoever in paying for any of those items.”, reports Wales Online.
When suspicious sellers attempted to retrieve their goods, Bernie McDonagh would turn aggressive, issuing threats of violence before fleeing the scene with the stolen items and making his getaway by car. If sellers tried to contact him afterwards, he blocked them or laughed down the phone at them.
He told one seller he knew where he lived, and added: “You don’t want me to hurt you or your family.”
On occasion, Bernie McDonagh carried out three frauds in a single day.
In one instance, the defendant sold a counterfeit iPhone for £900 in cash.
Bernie McDonagh(Image: Gwent Police)
Thomas McDonagh also became embroiled in the scams, utilising the fraudulent banking app to deceive his victims, and became menacing when challenged.
On one occasion, he drove away with an item while the victim thrust his arms through the car window attempting to retrieve it. Thomas McDonagh continued driving and struck the victim, who fell and sustained bruises to his hip and upper arm.
The defendants attempted to offload items at Cex stores in Port Talbot and Roath, Cardiff, in return for cash.
Bernie McDonagh was responsible for stealing items valued at £27,142, while Thomas McDonagh was responsible for stealing goods worth £10,194.
The defendant was detained on two occasions before being brought to justice.
Bernie McDonagh, of Heol Berllan, Pyle, Bridgend, and Thomas McDonagh, of Riverside Caravan Park, Queensferry, Flintshire, subsequently admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and fraud by false representation.
A fake banking app was used to fool Facebook Marketplace sellers(Image: South Wales Police)
Judge Felstead handed Bernie McDonagh an 18-month prison sentence, while Thomas McDonagh received 19 months’ imprisonment and a three-year driving ban.
Speaking after the hearing, DC Benjamin Phillips and DC Matthew Emberton, of South Wales Police, said: “The McDonagh’s travelled up and down the Southwest of the country taking advantage of innocent members of the public simply trying to sell their unwanted items online.
“They were brazen in their approach, encouraging the unsuspecting sellers to take photos of the fake bank transfer messages along with photographs of the defendants themselves and their car, it an attempt to mask their deceit.
“We’d recommend that anyone selling items online to request cash or PayPal. If you are happy to accept a bank transfer, wait for the funds to clear before handing over the goods. Do you research and check reviews on sites like eBay, Vinted and Depop.”
A third individual, Patrick O’Brien, was arrested during this investigation, but passed away while enquiries were ongoing, resulting in proceedings against him being dropped.
A 17-year-old boy also received a four-month Referral Order at Cardiff Youth Court for his part in the offences last year.
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