News Brief: English
Summary
A Gold Coast builder, Mathew Stringer, is at the center of an alleged impersonation scam where a man fraudulently claimed to be his nephew and used his company’s license to secure deposits for construction work that was never performed. Police have issued an arrest warrant for the suspect.
Key Points
- Alleged Scam: A man impersonated builder Mathew Stringer’s nephew, using Stringer’s surname and builder’s license to scam customers.
- Financial Loss: Multiple victims reported losses between $10,000 and $18,000 each for work never started or completed.
- Police Action: An arrest warrant has been issued. The suspect also allegedly failed to return hired equipment.
- Industry Advice: Authorities urge property owners to verify builder licenses via the QBCC website and seek referrals before hiring.
- Legal Penalties: Severe penalties exist for unlicensed building offenses, including fines over $58,000 or jail time.
新闻简报：中文
摘要
黄金海岸建筑商马修·斯特林格卷入一起涉嫌冒充诈骗案。一名男子谎称是其侄子，并利用其公司资质骗取客户工程定金，但未进行任何施工。警方已对该嫌疑人发出逮捕令。
关键点
- 涉嫌诈骗：一名男子冒充建筑商马修·斯特林格的侄子，使用其姓氏和建筑许可证进行诈骗。
- 经济损失：多名受害者报告损失在1万至1.8万澳元之间，相关工程从未开工或完成。
- 警方行动：已发出逮捕令。嫌疑人还被指控租用设备后未归还。
- 行业建议：当局敦促业主在雇佣前通过QBCC网站核实建筑商资质，并寻求推荐。
- 法律处罚：无证从事建筑活动可能面临高达58,415澳元罚款或一年监禁的严厉处罚。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-15/alleged-builder-fraud-gold-coast-police-investigation/106120404