Career conman on the run
A wanted man who has allegedly been duping people through Trade Me is a career conman who once gave false information to police investigating the Scott Guy murder case.
Andrew Colin George Jacobs, now 23, also falsely told a 17-yearold girl he had cancer so he could get part of her dead father’s estate.
Waikato police say he has recently defrauded more people, often through Trade Me, and have a warrant to arrest him.
‘‘He has obtained items for sale with the premise he will pay following delivery, but payment is never made,’’ police said.
He is wanted in relation to multiple fraud matters and was seen in Morrinsville in the early hours of Saturday, August 27.
He has connections to the Waikato and the Rangitikei and police think he will be trying to get back to the Bulls area.
Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to please contact the Morrinsville Police on 07 889 5071 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to remain anonymous.
Jacobs is originally from Feilding and had 40 convictions by the time he was 20 – some committed while on bail as he waited for sentencing on other matters.
His list of convictions covers everything from lying to police to blackmail and forgery.
One high-profile instance was providing false information to police investigating the Scott Guy murder case in 2010, for which he was convicted and fined $500.
He was sentenced to jail by Justice Gilbert on April 3, 2014, who at that stage was concerned about his criminal history of 36 convictions.
He was imprisoned for 13 months on three charges of obtaining by deception and one of using a document for pecuniary advantage.
But while he was on bail, waiting for sentencing on those matters, he committed more offences between December 2013 and January 2014.
They involved dodgy dealings with vehicles and a travel expenses ruse.
He used an alias to buy a Toyota Altezza via Trade Me for $8350, then forged a ‘‘nationwide bank’’ email confirming he had transferred funds to the victim.
He got the car but the promised money never went through.
He tried the same email ruse when ‘‘buying’’ a Toyota Hilux, but the victim did not fall for it and backed out of the transaction.
In December 2013, Jacobs was living in Feilding and applied for jobs through a rural farm vacancy website.
Jacobs thought up a ruse to gain travel expenses, for which he was paid $715, then did not turn up for the interview. He did that a second time and pocketed $1000.
After Jacobs’ sentencing in 2014, Waikato fraud squad officer Detective Simon Eckersley gave advice on how to avoid falling prey to a fraudster.
‘‘There’s the old saying, if it looks too good to be true it probably is, and if something doesn’t feel right, step back and have another look at it. Also do a bit of research about the person you are dealing with.’’