Bernie McDonagh and Thomas McDonagh (Image: Gwent Police)
Last Updated: 3 minutes ago
A pair who duped dozens of people out of nearly £70,000 worth of goods by using a counterfeit banking application have been sentenced to prison.
Bernie McDonagh, 20, and Thomas McDonagh, 23, targeted sellers on Facebook Marketplace over a nine-month period between January and September 2023, operating across six police force areas including Gwent, South Wales, Dyfed-Powys, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, and Dorset.
How the scam worked
The two men would respond to listings under the alias “Rosemary Baker” before later adopting other fake names. When meeting sellers to collect items, they displayed a fabricated payment confirmation screen generated by the fake app – giving the impression a bank transfer had gone through when no money had actually been sent.
In a brazen twist, they even encouraged their victims to photograph the bogus transfer messages, as well as pictures of the pair themselves and their vehicle – a tactic designed to create a false sense of security.
Selling on the stolen goods
CCTV footage later placed the pair at multiple CeX stores, where they offloaded the fraudulently obtained items. The goods included smartphones, laptops, and luxury watches, with the total value across all 27 victims reaching close to £70,000.
Sentencing
Both men admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation earlier this year. At Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday 21 May, Bernie McDonagh was handed an 18-month prison sentence, while Thomas McDonagh received 19 months.
A third individual linked to the investigation, Patrick O’Brien, died during the course of the enquiry and the case against him was discontinued. A 17-year-old boy was separately given a four-month Referral Order at Cardiff Youth Court last year for his involvement.
Police warning to sellers
Officers in charge of the case, DC Benjamin Phillips and DC Matthew Emberton, 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.”
