A Queensland father and son have been charged over a line-dancing holiday scam, which allegedly ripped off would-be boot scooters for more than $400,000.

May 7, 2020

A Queensland father and son accused of ripping off boot scooters for hundreds of thousands of dollars in a line-dancing holiday scam used elaborate disguises while on the run for more than a year.

Brett Jenkins, 38, and Bruce Jenkins, 67, spent 14 months evading police after allegedly using Brett’s travel company to defraud hundreds of victims of more than $400,000.

The pair allegedly took payments for trips to bogus boot-scooting festivals, boat cruises, balls and overseas holidays before disappearing last April, Detective Senior Sergeant Ken Rogers told reporters on Thursday.

“The bookings never happened. They kept the money and the victims remain without any cash,” he said.

“For quite a lot of these victims, it was a trip of a lifetime and it was their life savings.”

The Jenkins allegedly used trust built up in the line-dancing community through 15 years of participation at events to lure their clients into parting with their cash.

“To build up that rapport and trust and take all that money just makes the crimes all the more despicable,” Det Snr Sgt Rogers said.

The men are accused of swindling payments from about 200 mostly elderly line dancing clients.

Det Snr Sgt Rogers alleged most of it was spent on online gambling, with Brett Jenkins the main offender.

The duo was taken into custody at a Sunshine Coast home on Wednesday following a tip-off from an associate.

Det Snr Sgt Rogers said the pair had been difficult to track down despite numerous sightings by the tight-knit line dancing community while they were on the run.

“These two individuals cut ties with the entire community, including their loved ones and associates,” he said.

“Upon arrest, it was obvious these people had taken great measures to change their appearance – put on a lot of weight, they had long hair, they had grown long beards.”

Det Snr Sgt Rogers said the Jenkins also roughed it in national park campgrounds.

When they visited shops they changed clothes and made sure they were not seen arriving and leaving together by CCTV cameras.

“It was quite disciplined and quite calculated,” he said.

Police received multiple fraud complaints from out-of-pocket dancers in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast during their investigation.

The men have each been charged with 202 fraud offences and appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday.

They were remanded in custody to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 28.