Scammer who targeted dealerships jailed

A 23-year-old man has been jailed after he targeted car dealerships in Cork and Wicklow to acquire BMWs valued at around €164,000.

Callum Kearney, who posed as an interested buyer, received a three-year sentence with 21 months suspended.

His method involved creating and sending Photoshopped images to mimic bank transfer confirmations.

Kearney, from Ballincollig in Co Cork, is already serving a 27-month sentence for deception offences, and pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to theft and attempted motor theft.

Detective Garda Mark O’Riordain from the stolen motor vehicle investigation unit told the court that on 14th November 2023, Kearney called Ashford Motors in Rathnew, Co Wicklow, looking to buy two BMWs valued at €89,950 and €54,950.

Kearney furnished the dealer with his details and sent phone screenshots to show bank transfers, but the money was not received, and he did not get the cars.

Six days later, he went to CMC Car Sales in Mallow, Co Cork to view a BMW priced at €28,950 and sent a screenshot of the pending payment as he took it for a test drive and failed to return.

He put fake registration plates on the car, which was later located in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

The court heard how he learned how to use Photoshop software to make images of bank transfers using the same font and colour as AIB.