Serial fraudster Steven Miller — aka Mustafa Malas — may be up to his dirty tricks again.
An unlicensed landscape contractor using the name ‘‘Steven Miller’’ has been operating in St George and Sutherland Shire under the registered business name Ambient Landscapes Pty Ltd.
Ambient Landscapes is a family-run landscaping company based at Somersby near Gosford.
Its director David Meldrum found out about the scam last week after a shire resident called him to ask for his money back.
Miller previously ripped off residents in St George and the shire using the business name Aussie Landscapes.
The Leader reported last year that Miller also uses the aliases Steven James, Steve Miller and Steven or Steve Malas.
NSW Fair Trading is prosecuting Miller for breaches of the Home Building Act for unlicensed contracting, contracting without insurance and receiving payment under contract without insurance.
He is also being prosecuted under Australian Consumer Law for accepting payment for goods and services and failing to provide those goods and services within a reasonable time, a Fair Trading spokesman said.
The matter will be mentioned in Parramatta Local Court on April 24.
A person using the name David Meldrum placed advertisements for Ambient Landscapes in this publication, using an address in Pitt Street, Mortdale. The advertisements have been cancelled.
Fair Trading confirmed Miller was not formally listed as an associated party to the company.
Mr Meldrum is disgusted that someone would use his name and licence number to rip off unsuspecting homeowners.
‘‘As recently as yesterday, I had a lady call from your area wanting her money back,’’ Mr Meldrum said.
‘‘My wife is absolutely sick with worry over this.’’
Several residents contacted the Leader about a ‘’Steven Miller’’ from Ambient Landscapes.
They detail similar dealings with ‘‘Steven Miller’’; he asks for large cash payments upfront but does not complete the job, is hard to reach on the phone, uses different mobile numbers, makes excuses for not turning up, does not accept credit cards and does not provide proper invoices.
‘‘This business has been in our family for 35 years and we only do residential work and we don’t advertise, it’s all word of mouth,’’ Mr Meldrum said.
‘‘We have never done any work south of the Harbour Bridge.’’
Parramatta Local Court convicted Miller at the beginning of last year for breaches and ordered him to pay fines and costs of $67,310 and compensation of $17,247.
The Leader reported last August that Miller had not made any attempt to cease his unlawful behaviour or pay fines or compensation.
Fair Trading has received complaints about the latest scam.
Mr Meldrum reported the matter to Gosford police, who said it would be referred to the Fraud Squad. His wife said on Tuesday afternoon they were still waiting for an incident number.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) lists registered business names, licence numbers and ABNs on its website to protect consumers from fraudulent activity.
Mr Meldrum said the catch-22 of this public record was that fraudsters could use the information.
He said he spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the first man who had been scammed.
‘‘We’ve spoken several times since then and he’s on my side and I’m on his side,’’ Mr Meldrum said.
Have you been conned by Steven Miller?
