BRISBANE, Australia — Four New Zealanders living in Queensland have pleaded guilty to a $330,000 vehicle fraud scheme that deceived 34 car buyers across the state.
According to The Courier Mail, the group — Kimberley Tina Deans, Wolf Brock Cameron, Dante James Cameron (also known as Andrew Cole), and Wilson Gregory (also known as Elijah Cole) — bought written-off cars online and through auctions using fake identities, then resold them as safe and roadworthy.
The quartet used false names, phone numbers, and email addresses, advertising the cars on online marketplaces. Buyers were given fake registration certificates and VINs from similar legitimate vehicles, making the scams appear authentic.
The fraud ran between 2019 and 2020, with all four living together in Regents Park, southern Brisbane.
Deans, who was 19 at the time, managed the advertisements and handled the funds, while Dante Cameron, 22, communicated with buyers and processed payments. Wolf Cameron, also 22, was described as the ringleader, directing the group alongside Deans. Gregory, 22, played a smaller supporting role.
Their profits funded purchases of a 2020 VW Golf, a 2020 VW Polo GT, and a Kia Sorrento GT.
The Queensland court sentenced each based on their level of involvement:
Kimberley Tina Deans: Five years’ jail, suspended, with 107 days’ time served.
Wolf Brock Cameron: Four years’ jail, suspended.
Dante James Cameron: Five years’ jail, suspended after 153 days in custody.
Wilson Gregory: Three years’ jail, suspended, with 15 days declared as time served.
A suspended sentence allows offenders to remain in the community under strict conditions instead of serving their full prison term.
Prosecutors said Deans’ role handled $230,989, while Wolf Cameron’s actions impacted 13 victims, and Dante Cameron’s involvement affected 27 victims with total losses of $290,799.
Authorities described the scam as a sophisticated and deliberate deception that left dozens of unsuspecting Queenslanders out of pocket.
