POLICE are hunting an alleged ‘fake tipster’ who mysteriously disappeared after conning punters in a betting scam.
Mitchell Fenton is alleged to have offered hugely inflated odds on a horse that won a race.
He offered as much as 5-1 on Coolangatta to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in Australia last month.
It is believed punters piled onto the offer given the horse was sent off at around evens on the day.
However, when Coolangatta won, Fenton and the Twitter account he allegedly ran, Horse Racing Global, disappeared.
Ten days later the account resurfaced with an apologetic post – and, bizarrely, a tip for a race at Southwell.
The post read: “I deeply regret my actions involving Coolangatta in last Saturday’s Magic Millions.
“It was immoral and unethical, regardless of motives and for that I’m sorry.
“All money owed will be paid to those who lost out in full asap.”
But the account @GlobalHorseBet has since vanished once more.
Queensland Racing Integrity Commission Shane Gillard said the alleged scam had been passed onto authorities.
And Queensland Police confirmed a probe had been started into the case.
Gillard said: “The alleged betting scam has been referred to the Queensland Police Service Racing Crime Squad for investigation.”
The same Twitter account was said to be behind a ‘Mafia Race Fixing Gang’.
News.com.au reported that Fenton allegedly offered a ‘one-off’ sign up fee of around £250 to join the ‘elitist group’.
A post read: “When the race is ‘designed’ and the winner nominated, all members will be immediately sent the selection.
“Then obviously it’s up to you how much to bet but when there’s no risk except an act of God you can bet as much as you can get together.
“This might sound too good to be true or like pie in the sky but we are simply offering you an entry in to the underground where people here (sic) about stuff like this but never get close to becoming privvy (sic) to what the sting is.”
Nine newspaper said they had been approached by punters caught up in the alleged scam, including one who claimed to have lost more than £500.
Before being closed, the @GlobalHorseBet account had just under 13,000 followers.
