A FRAUDSTER who posed as an airline worker to con Brazilian migrant families out of thousands of pounds has admitted the offences.

Tiverton man Fernando De Carvalho targeted the Swindon community with tempting offers of flights and board at discount prices, before his victims realised the deals would fall through.

The 30-year-old offered a guilty plea at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Monday to all offences, which include four of fraud by false representation, and another of concealing ill-gotten cash in bank accounts.

Between November 15 and December 18, 2013, De Carvalho took payments of up to £3,000 offering package deals of flights and board. His victims only realised the scam when they contacted the airline directly.

Vivian Thatcher, prosecuting at an earlier hearing, said: “This is a very unusual case. We have five charges and they all relate to airline tickets, for various amounts. 

“The first four victims are all Brazilian and it involves the same person. The total value is for £8,118. What lies beyond these charges is a degree of sophistication.

“There are not only multiple charges, but considerable planning is involved.”

Phillip Hall, defending, said: “These are matters of substantial value, in excess of £7,000. I would request an all-options pre sentence report. Mr Carvalho is on unconditional bail and I would ask that to be extended.”

One victim raised the alarm last February after suspicions were raised about his reference number. 

“The only reason I found out about the problem was because I phoned the airline,” he said.

“I needed a cot seat for my son who was very young at the time. 

“I gave them my reference number, but they told me that was just a quote reference – that they would have held it for 24 hours, and when it wasn’t paid for, it disappeared.

“My family have been devastated, because that was two years of planning that was ruined. A single person could fly to Brazil easily, but for a family of five it is months of planning and a lot of money.”

De Carvalho will be sentenced when he returns to court on June 8 after the probation service prepare a report into his circumstances. He could face up to a year in prison.