Scammer, Breaks Boys Hearts!!!

[Stubbsie]

Scammer, Breaks Boys Hearts
20th September, 2006

THE National Rugby League has promised to come to the rescue of six teenagers from remote communities in northwest Queensland who are the victims of an apparent scam by a man claiming to be an NRL talent scout.

The families and sponsors of the boys have been left more than $5000 out of pocket after giving the man amounts ranging from $300 to $2620.

They deposited the money in the bank account of the alleged scout for travel, insurance and accommodation costs.

The boys' families say they will go to the police seeking to have the Mount Isa resident charged after he told them he had spent the money elsewhere.

The mother of one of the boys, Veneita McConnachie, said her son Billy, 16, was devastated by the experience after arriving at Mount Isa airport yesterday only to find there was no booking for his trip to Sydney.

NRL communications manager John Brady said the league would do everything in its power to ensure the boys realised their dreams of trialling for contracts with Sydney clubs.

Brady said the NRL had been alerted to the drama yesterday when one of the boys, Troy Mara from Cloncurry, arrived in Sydney to trial with the Roosters only to be left stranded at the airport when there was no one to meet him.

Mara, whose family paid his way to Sydney, has been accommodated by the Wests Tigers club and will get to trial this weekend.

The other five boys are still in northwest Queensland.

One of the boys is from Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria; four are from Mount Isa and nearby Dajarra; and another is from Cloncurry.

Dajarra Hotel publican Philip Kiernan contributed $2620 towards the boys' expenses.

"The fellow who passed himself off as an agent is a well-known resident in Mount Isa and everything seemed to be above board," Mr Kiernan said.

"He seemed to have the right contacts with the NRL clubs. The boys are distraught. It's a real kick in the guts for them."

Mrs McConnachie, who contributed $1200 to her son's trip, said she had spoken to the "agent" yesterday.

"He sounded remorseful and said he would reimburse us," she said. "But some of the other mothers and I are going to the police."

Does it get much lower than that....

[Tigger]

He's well known in Mt Isa so that must be really sad for the families who trusted him - also he'd probably better watch his back now............I know I'd be gunning for him!