Victorian man defrauds women of more than $45,000 after meeting them online
Stephen Cross used a fake name to deceive women he met online, tricking some into giving him money.
A 43-year-old man from Gippsland, Stephen James Cross, pleaded guilty to defrauding four women in the region out of over $45,000 through online deception. Cross went by the alias "Jimmy Smith," living with one of the victims. He pretended to be a landscaper, claiming various injuries, his mother's health issues, and even owning properties in Inverloch and Warragul.
Cross met the women through dating apps and used fabricated stories to win their trust. Victims include one woman who watched him watch "The Tinder Swindler" with him before realizing his deceit, and another who discovered his true identity after a social media post. Cross is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
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