Accused serial fraudster Craig Heath remanded after another alleged property scam
A serial fraudster who allegedly defrauded 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 the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday night when it emerged he was charged with obtaining property by deception after allegedly posing as a property developer to obtain finance for a commercial development.
The prosecution told the court that a Brighton real estate agent contacted investigators and told them Heath’s alleged crime involved the sale of a house for more than $1 million.
The prosecution alleged that Heath used a false name and claimed to be a builder working for a property developer and demanded to be paid a monthly fee of $15,000 to work as a project manager.
The alleged victim and the seller of the property became suspicious and “did a quick Google search and found this: [Heath] “In various news,” the prosecutor’s office said.
The court also heard Heath stole more than $2,500 by persuading another man he met at the gym to invest in a “fraudulent business” claiming to be a flooring contractor. Both offenses are alleged to have been committed while Heath was on bail and also breached his bail conditions.
Arguing for Heath’s custody, the prosecution said Heath faces serious charges for allegedly masterminding a series of real estate frauds against 31 people totaling more than $10 million.
Heath was charged with the alleged crime in February 2024 and released on bail, but was arrested again by police nearly two months later when he was found in a cafe allegedly making a bank transfer from someone’s account.
The prosecution said Heath repeatedly breached his bail conditions throughout 2024 and 2025 and insulted a learning disabled person to avoid detection, including using him as a stand-in and allowing him to work as a “shadow manager”.
The prosecution said Heath continued to breach his bail conditions, despite the courts consistently granting him bail and applying conditions “as strictly as possible”.
In March 2025, the court heard Heath’s bail conditions were relaxed after he asked the court to weaken the restrictions to allow him to work a full-time job as a warehouseman and provided a letter from his workplace. But prosecutors said bail checking police contacted his employer and told Heath “he was ill on the start date and had not been heard from again since the start date.”
In July 2025, the court heard Heath was granted a change of 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 whether he had met his bail conditions, they were 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 for alleged “rape by fraud” in 2026, in which he was accused of agreeing to pay a woman for sex but later failed to pay.
Heath was previously found not guilty of the charges for which he was released on bail.
Heath, who appeared in court via video link from Moorabbin police station on Thursday night wearing glasses and a dark jumper, said he needed bail to fund his legal defense against the allegations.
“It would be unfair, I wouldn’t have a fair chance in court if I was arrested,” he told magistrate James Henderson.
“I’m not walking around with a gold chain, I’m flashy, I’m working. I want to be able to continue working and progress fairly.”
He said he was the victim of one-sided rhetoric and sabotage in the media.
“I made it in the media, I made it in life, too. If I get arrested, I won’t have a chance,” he said.
Heath said he had “complyed with every bail condition” and that the charges against him were part of a “very complex matter” arising from the 2014 bankruptcy.
Heath said he quit drinking alcohol, could not take the medication he used for anxiety and depression, and also had to take care of his 82-year-old father, who lives with him.
“I cook for him, I clean for him,” Heath told the court.
In refusing bail, Henderson said Heath had not given convincing reasons why he should be released on bail.
The judge said the allegations were serious and involved a large sum of money.
When bail was refused, Heath put his hands to his head and said: “Oh my God.”
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Angus Delaney is a reporter for The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at Angusdelaney.31.Connect via email.
