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Latvian pair charged over online barbecue, gym equipment sale scam

Two Latvian nationals accused of running fake trader websites flogging cheap barbecues and airconditioners that scammed more than 200 people out of $250,000 have been charged.

Anastasija Sveinika, 27, and Aleksandrs Gorikijis, 25, are alleged to be behind more than two dozen websites with legitimate-sounding names targeting Australians.

The websites offered heavily reduced prices on items including barbecues, outboard motors, airconditioners and gym equipment, to be paid in cash.

The accused scammers, who were allegedly in Australia illegally after they overstayed their visas, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with money laundering, drug possession and more than two dozen counts of fraud.

Police alleged the pair set up the websites to lure victims into paying for the items, which were never delivered.

"At this stage we have received 126 reports in relation to 27 separate websites. We anticipate somewhere in the vicinity of $110,000 has been lost so far, however we expect this figure to rise," Acting Detective Inspector Peter Robb said, last week.

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The State Crime Command's Cyber Crime Group put out a public call for help to find the 27-year-old man and 25-year-old woman last week and they were caught on Tuesday.

Dressed in brown watchhouse tracksuits, with bare feet, both appeared briefly before the court just before 11.30am.

Ms Sveinika hugged herself tightly against the cold of Court 3, which the magistrate commented on.

Police have taken down the following websites in relation to the alleged scam:

  • airconditionerexperts.com.au
  • appliancediscounters.com.au
  • appliancespecialists.com.au
  • bbqdeals.com.au
  • gymsource.com.au
  • outboardcentre.com.au
  • bbqmaster.com.au
  • expertfitness.com.au
  • mercurymarineoutboards.com.au
  • outboardmarine.net.au
  • outboardmarineonline.com.au
  • outboardmotors.com.au
  • bbqarena.com.au
  • gardenoutdoorsales.com.au
  • outboardmarineyard.com.au
  • suzukioutboardmotors.com.au
  • barbecuesales.com.au
  • bbqmasters.com.au​