A Sydney man who allegedly used the aliases 'Alan Jones' and 'Tim Webster' while carying out a global Internet fraud has been refused bail in a regional New South Wales court. Nick Marninellis, 39, is alleged to have made more than $5 million from junk emails in a 'Nigerian-style' fraud where emails invited recipients to enter a business opportunity. He is facing 17 charges and appeared today at Dubbo Local Court. Marninellis was arrested at his Nyngan holiday house in western New South Wales yesterday. Police have been watching him since February. Police allege Marninellis phoned his African counterparts and made plans to fleece victims, referring to them as "mugus". They also alleged he said he had 220 African brothers worldwide and that Australia was the headquarters for the scam.
| Nigerian scam artists headquartered in Australia? I'd never have guessed. I thought they were in Lagos... |
Police say Marninellis obtained more than $500,000 from a Saudi Arabian Sheik and they estimate he has earned more than $1.5 million in the past year. The victims of the fraud are located all around the world, with a Japanese businessman allegedly being defrauded by Marninellis, who was allegedly using the alias 'Alan Jones'. |