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Aug 20, 2023

Queensland business owner swindled out of $20,000 in bizarre ‘humming’ box cash

A man is wanted over a bizarre “humming” box cash-copying scam he allegedly

A man is wanted over a bizarre "humming" box cash-copying scam he allegedly peddled across Queensland's southeast.

He allegedly visited businesses in Logan, south of Brisbane, claiming he had a machine that could duplicate legitimate currency, creating cash that was not counterfeit.

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In one incident, the man turned up at a Browns Plains kebab-store on March 9 and offered to purchase the store from the owner.

He spoke to the owner a number of times after this, and went to another business operated by the same owner on March 25.

The man was carrying a safe and a black wooden box with a power cord, and produced two bundles of what he claimed was $100,000 cash.

He put the money inside the box and asked the owner for $50,000 to add to the box for duplication.

The owner refused and the man allegedly became angry.

He transferred the two bundles from the box to the safe, and left after telling the owner he would be in contact the next day.

When the owner couldn't contact the man the next day, he forced opened the safe and found photocopies of cash inside.

The man also allegedly went to a Slacks Creek business during the same time period, offering to purchase the store from the owner.

He again claimed he could legitimately duplicate his money using a machine.

The owner gave the man $20,000 in cash on March 24.

The man ran the portion of the money through a large black box with a power cord, along with a bundle of what looked to be cash that he had provided.

The box made a "humming" noise as this occurred.

After the process finished, the man transferred the money into a safe, leaving the safe with the owner while he kept the key.

He said he would return the following day but did not.

The owner forced open the safe and found allegedly counterfeit money inside.

The man is alleged to have visited at least 10 different businesses in the Logan area, using the same story.

Police have released footage of the man, showing a white Toyota Camry sedan he is believed to be travelling in.

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