Police believe Barry John Faulkner, dubbed Australia’s “Catch Me If You Can” bandit, is luring victims to Sydney airport. Since April, a dozen people have fallen for his trap.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the 59-year-old – a registered child sex offender who has a history of child sex abuse dating back to the 1960s – is being sought by the Australian Federal Police.
The many faces of Barry John Faulkner
The latest guise of Faulkner, who has conned people while posing as a doctor, an airline pilot, a CIA agent, an American military officer and a member of The Monkees, is as an employee of a Sydney airport-based courier firm.
He persuaded his victims that he could supply them with cheap motorcycles, including expensive Italian Ducatis, perfume and jewellery.
It is believed he was also conducting similar acts at Brisbane airport in January. He was also being sought in NSW on other warrants.
The AFP yesterday issued a warning for people to be on the lookout for a man offering motorcyles, perfumes or jewelery at Sydney airport. He may appear to be as a Worker for the airport.
“Airport uniform police at Sydney have had two reports of people being approached by a man who offered special deals on goods that were never produced,” a spokesman said.
“On each occasion the man offered to purchase items such as a Ducati motorcycle, perfume and watches from auctions of unclaimed goods from the airport,” he said.
In 2006, Faulkner was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment for child sex abuse and failing to report to police under the Child Protection Register as a child sex offender.
The court was told his criminal history in NSW alone stretched to 30 pages.
Faulkner once featured on the television program Australia’s Most Wanted and at one stage was wanted in five states at the same time.
REAL ONE
ONE of Australia’s most notorious fraudsters has returned to Sydney to prey on unsuspecting commuters.
Police believe Barry John Faulkner, dubbed Australia’s “Catch Me If You Can” bandit, is luring victims to Sydney airport. Since April, a dozen people have fallen for his scam, netting him thousands of dollars.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the 59-year-old – a registered child sex offender who has a history of fraud dating back to the 1960s – is being sought by the Australian Federal Police.
The many faces of Barry John Faulkner
jThe latest guise of Faulkner, who has conned people while posing as a doctor, an airline pilot, a CIA agent, an American military officer and a member of The Monkees, is as an employee of a Sydney airport-based courier firm.
He persuaded his victims that he could supply them with cheap motorcycles, including expensive Italian Ducatis, perfume and jewellery.
He presented forged paperwork from the courier company and told them he had access to the unclaimed goods that had passed through Australian Customs, saying the goods would be destroyed if he did not sell them.
His meeting point for the transactions has been Sydney’s international airport, drawing the attention of AFP in charge of airport security who have received reports of Faulkner’s frauds.
It is believed other victims may have reported the frauds to police stations around Sydney.
His most recent fraud occurred this month when he took $3000 as an up-front payment for goods at the airport before disappearing.
It is believed he was also conducting a similar scam at Brisbane airport in January. He was also being sought in NSW on other warrants.
The AFP yesterday issued a warning for people to be on the lookout for a man conducting cons at Sydney airport.
While not naming Faulkner, the AFP warned people to be on the lookout for a con artist operating at Sydney airport.
“Airport uniform police at Sydney have had two reports of people being approached by a man who offered special deals on goods that were never produced,” a spokesman said.
“On each occasion the man offered to purchase items such as a Ducati motorcycle, perfume and watches from auctions of unclaimed goods from the airport,” he said.
In 2006, Faulkner was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment for fraud and failing to report to police under the Child Protection Register as a child sex offender.
The court was told his criminal history in NSW alone stretched to 30 pages.
Faulkner once featured on the television program Australia’s Most Wanted and at one stage was wanted in five states at the same time.
