MANLY, Australia (30 April 2025) — Aron Degotardi, accused of scamming over half a million dollars through his Northern Beaches holiday rental business, has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Manly Local Court today.
Degotardi, 51, was arrested in March 2025 after police executed a search warrant at his home in Anna Bay. He was initially charged with 31 counts of “dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.” Since his arrest, additional charges have been added, bringing the total number of counts to 42. The total amount he allegedly owes to landlords and renters is over $570,000.
Victims who used Degotardi’s rental service reported paying deposits for properties, only for the rentals to be abruptly canceled. Some renters arrived at the advertised properties to find them occupied by residents unaware of any rental agreement. One frustrated customer shared their experience on a product review site:
“They hadn’t refunded me, nor the other 50% they had taken without my permission. The Airbnb host confirmed no booking was ever made for those dates. My booking was never valid,” they said.
Others claimed they rented out their properties through Degotardi’s service but never received the rental income. Property owners Corina Ward and her sister Ursula Hopper attended the court proceedings, alleging that Degotardi never paid them for the use of their Fairlight properties during the Christmas holidays.
Corina shared that after renting their properties, Degotardi promised to send her payment, but the money never arrived, despite numerous calls and emails. She is owed over $6,000. Ursula claims to have lost more than $29,000 in unpaid rental income.
Some property owners have reported losses as high as $46,000, while renters have filed claims up to $20,000, according to police reports.
Degotardi was granted conditional bail, and his case has been adjourned. He is scheduled to return to Manly Local Court on May 14, 2025.
