Accused serial fraudster remanded after another alleged property scam

An accused serial fraudster alleged to have conned vulnerable people out of more than $10 million has been arrested over a new alleged real estate scam.

Craig Heath, 53, was refused bail in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday night, when he appeared accused of obtaining property by deception after allegedly posing as a real estate developer to obtain financing for a commercial development.

The prosecution told the court that a Brighton real estate agent contacted investigators and told them Heath’s alleged offending was related to the sale of a home for more than $1 million.

The prosecution alleged Heath used a false name and claimed to be a builder working for a property developer, and requested to be paid a monthly $15,000 fee for working as a project supervisor.

His alleged victim and the property vendor became suspicious and “conducted a brief Google search and found [Heath] in various news articles”, the prosecution said.

The court also heard Heath allegedly stole more than $2500 from another person, whom he met at a gym, by conning them into investing into a “fraudulent business” claiming to be a flooring contractor. It’s alleged both offences were committed while Heath was on bail, and that he also breached his bail conditions.

In arguing for Heath to be remanded in custody, the prosecution said he faced significant charges for allegedly masterminding a series of real estate frauds totalling more than $10 million against 31 people.

Heath was charged in February 2024 over the alleged offending and released on bail but was arrested again by police about two months later when he was found in a cafe while allegedly conducting a bank transfer from a person’s account.

The prosecution said that throughout 2024 and 2025 Heath repeatedly breached his bail conditions and offended, including by using a person with a learning disability as a proxy to avoid detection and let him operate as a “shadow director”.

The prosecution said despite courts applying the conditions “as strict as possible” while continually granting Heath bail, he continued to breach his bail conditions.

In March 2025, the court heard, Heath’s bail conditions were loosened after he requested the court weaken the restrictions to allow him to work in a fulltime job as a storeman, and that he supplied a letter from his workplace. But prosecutors said police conducting a bail check contacted his employer and were told Heath had “called in sick on his start date and was never heard of again since his start date”.

In July 2025, the court heard, Heath was granted a variation to his bail conditions but did not attend court because he said he had flu-like symptoms. The prosecution said on Thursday night that when police visited Heath’s home last year to check his bail compliance, he was found to be using dating apps and encrypted apps, in breach of his bail conditions.

The prosecution also said Heath was arrested and interviewed this year over an alleged “rape by fraud” in 2026, in which he is accused of agreeing to pay a woman for sex, but failed to pay her afterwards.

Heath has not been found guilty of the charges for which he was previously bailed.

Heath, who appeared in court on Thursday night via a video link from Moorabbin police station wearing glasses and a dark jumper, said he needed bail so he could work to fund his legal defence against the allegations.

“It would just be unjust, I would not have a fair chance in court if I was remanded,” he told magistrate James Henderson.

“I don’t walk around with a gold chain, all flashy, I work. I want to be able to continue to work … and get a fair go.”

He said he had been victim to sabotage and a one-sided narrative in the media.

“I’ve copped it in the media, I’ve copped it in life. If I am remanded, I will not get my chance,” he said.

Heath said he had “complied with every single bail condition” and that the charges against him were part of a “very complex matter” stemming from a 2014 bankruptcy.

Heath said he was withdrawing from alcohol and was not in possession of his usual medication for anxiety and depression, and that he also needed to care for his 82-year-old father, who lived with him.

“I cook for him, I clean for him,” Heath told the court.

In denying bail, Henderson said Heath had failed to provide compelling reasons why he should be released on bail.

The magistrate said the allegations were serious and involved large amounts of money.

When bail was refused Heath put his hands on his head and said: “Oh my god.”

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