Two ticket scammers walked free from court after stealing thousands from Liverpool FC fans.
Kieran Foynes, 25, and David Glaz, also 25, set up a 'sophisticated' operation on Craigslist where they would sell match tickets that didn't exist.
The friends even set up foreign bank accounts and used fake names to dupe innocent buyers.
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Foynes and Glaz appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court this afternoon after stealing a total of £2,040.
Elle Battle-Kennedy, prosecuting, said: "The actions of these two came to light after several reports being made to Action Fraud regarding the selling of tickets to Liverpool Football Club matches."
She said all the tickets were sold online and all the victims had "a discussion" with the seller.
They then transferred money but "never received any football tickets".
Ms Battle-Kennedy said there were five complainants who came forward but the Crown "believed there are many more victims of the fraud".
A Mr Lowder said on December 10, 2018, he saw three tickets advertised on Craigslist for which he paid £390 to a bank account which held the name Chris Arnold.
Another victim, who was based in America, paid £360 for tickets while a Mr Cronan paid £380 following the Craigslist advertisement.
A different victim paid £520 on Craigslist and one saw the tickets "advertised on Twitter" for £390.
Ms Battle-Kennedy said email addresses and phone numbers from the transactions were linked back to the defendants.
She said: "It was established they had opened a foreign bank account.
"Mr Glaz had to take a picture of himself in order to open the bank account and was able to be identified through the image that was uploaded."
Both were then interviewed and Glaz denied the offences while Foynes answered no comment.
Foynes, of Fincham Road, Huyton, has a previous conviction for violent disorder in 2014 following which he received a Football Banning Order.
Glaz, of Clare Walk, Fazakerley, has previous convictions for "unrelated offending" including "simple possession of drugs matters".
Patrick O'Hanlon, defending, said the offences took place in 2019 and since then both Foynes and Glaz had stayed out of trouble.
He said Foynes and Glaz are friends and had "known each other for a number of years" and are "both football supporters".
Mr O'Hanlon conceded they had been "preying on innocent football fans" with a "sophisticated set up".
He said both had a "genuine prospect of rehabilitation" and asked the judge to consider their "level of maturity" at the time.
Mr O'Hanlon said: "Both didn't recognise, and are honest enough to accept, they gave no thought to the complainants."
He explained their comments, or lack of, in the police interview was "both of them effectively burying their heads in the sand because they knew the game was up".
Mr O'Hanlon said: "This behaviour will not be repeated and this will be for both of them the last time they come before the courts."
He explained both are currently in receipt of Universal Credit but Glaz has been offered a position as a labourer and Foynes is due to start work on Friday as a line operative.
Foynes admitted fraud on December 10 2019 while Glaz admitted fraud between December 12 2018 and May 30, 2019.
Deputy District Judge Ian Barnes, sentencing, said: "Online market places such as these which offer the sale of tickets are built purely on trust.
"Ultimately when people such as yourselves abuse that trust it impacts on people's willingness to participate in online sales in that way."
The judge said they were "extremely mean offences" which "take advantage of people's desire to watch their football team".
Judge Barnes said: "You stole their money for your own financial gain."
The judge told Foynes and Glaz they had shown "no consideration" for their victims and there was a "degree of sophistication".
Judge Barnes said: "It's clear the financial impact it would have on any person but the majority, if not all of the offences, were around Christmas time and would have no doubt had an additional impact on those people."
Foynes and Glaz were both handed 12 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months and must complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
The judge said they must also complete up to 30 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and pay costs of £85.
Both were ordered to pay compensation to their victims amounting to the money they stole.
Foynes and Glaz must both pay £1,020 each.
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