Woman’s internet sting to pay bills

A woman fraudulently sold phantom mobile phones and concert tickets to unsuspecting victims on the internet and, used the money to pay bills.

Lynn Barker (32), of Hollinwood, replied to adverts on Facebook and Gumtree appealing for the items, claiming she had them to sell.

She set up three separate bank accounts and provided the details of these to 15 different buyers. Once their payment had been transferred to her account, she never contacted them again.

An Apple iPad, an expensive mobile phone and tickets for a Rihanna concert and a pop festival were among the items Barker claimed to be able to sell - worth £1,637.

The court heard that Barker had fallen into the trap of using the money to pay for her bills. When she lost her job, she struggled to live and continued dealing to support her husband and his five children.

She pleaded guilty to 10 charges of false representation at Oldham Magistrates Court. She will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on May 21.


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