A former Canberra childcare worker has admitted to a "catfish" scam in which she used a fake Instagram account and dating app to trick 10 men into sending her more than $300,000.
Crystal-Lee Lancaster, 26, pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to 10 counts of obtaining property by deception between 2011 and 2018, each involving a different victim.
Today the court heard one man transferred more than $130,000 over several years, while two more sent between $40,000 and $65,000.
Earlier, court documents revealed allegations Ms Lancaster had created an Instagram account pretending to be a woman from the United Kingdom, then used the smartphone dating app Plenty of Fish to organise the transfer of cash.
Police also claimed Ms Lancaster used the Plenty of Fish app, which allows users to communicate with each other for free, to convince the men to send her money for a number of reasons — including to cover medical expenses.
Her lawyers suggested they may seek a medical report on Lancaster before the matter moves to the ACT Supreme Court for sentencing later this year.
In a previous court appearance, Lancaster was physically sick and vomited, telling the court she had been ill during the week.
Lancaster remains in custody.
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