Police Hunt for Conman Who Failed to Appear for Sentencing
And ask further victims of Corrado's laptop frauds to come forward
APolice are appealing for information to trace the whereabouts of a man who failed to appear at court for sentencing.
John Anthony Corrado, 28 of no fixed address, failed to appear at West London Magistrates' Court on 15 September, where he was scheduled to be sentenced for five counts of fraud by false representation.
Corrado had pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred in July and August this year, on 2 September. He was arrested on 31 August after he handed himself in at Wandsworth Police Station and charged the following day.
Officers from Hammersmith and Fulham established that Corrado found his victims on an online buy/sell site, all of whom were selling MacBook laptops. He then arranged to meet the seller at which point he falsified a transaction to buy the item whilst face to face.
What he actually did was falsify a mobile transaction which never happened. Following the fake bank transfer he then left with the laptop.
PC Michael Proffitt of Hammersmith and Fulham said: "It's highly likely that there are further victims who have been duped by Corrado who have not yet reported the matter to police and I would urge them to come forward to speak to police.
"Corrado fooled his victims into believing his actions were legitimate. He created his own receipts and even made fake calls to banks whilst pretending to make transactions.
"Please remember to always check the legitimacy of any transactions and if in doubt speak to your bank directly. Always make online transactions via secure websites and report suspicious activity to the police or to Action Fraud."
September 21, 2015
