Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Fraud Charges for Ayr Cleaner Following Client Card Misuse

An Ayr cleaner has been fined after using a client’s bank card to make nearly $1,000 in online purchases.

The court heard the woman, who was working in a client’s home, accessed a debit card and used it to place a $974.30 order through Big W. Police described the fraud as “not sophisticated,” noting the purchases were billed to her own business and included her personal phone number, making detection almost certain.

A police spokesperson said that when items from the order were later found during a home search, the cleaner initially denied using the card but ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge.

Her lawyer explained that she was a single parent trying to make ends meet while operating her cleaning business, though Magistrate Susan Warrington described the incident as a “significant breach of trust” and noted that the way the order was billed made it inevitable that it would be discovered.

The cleaner has reportedly already repaid part of the amount to the client and was fined a further $800, with an order to repay the remaining balance.

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