Online punters were desperate to get their hands on summer concert tickets and Benjamin Caleb Flesher was happy to take their money.
The problem was the 26-year-old had nothing to sell.
He came before the Dunedin District Court this week after pleading guilty to 10 counts of accessing a computer for a dishonest purpose, as well as for aggravated drink-driving and breaching a protection order.
Facebook Marketplace is a section of the social media website where users can advertise items for sale or publicise a desire for a certain product.
Flesher found there was a particular keenness for tickets to Greenstone Entertainment's Summer Tour.
Two users wanted tickets to the Gibbston Valley leg and four advertised their desire to attend the Taupo gig.
Flesher simply claimed to have tickets and sent them his bank account number.
The victims deposited the agreed sums and days later discovered they had been fleeced.
Disgruntled customers took to Greenstone Entertainment's Facebook page to alert organisers to the scam.
Because of the ''special circumstances'' involved, chief executive Amanda Calvert arranged refunds for those who were ripped off.
She told the Otago Daily Times she was pleased she could help and stressed customers should only use official ticket providers.
Ms Calvert reminded prospective concertgoers that the 2020 tour was sold out and not to buy tickets through third parties.
Judge Kevin Phillips was impressed the company had shelled out more than $900 to cover the costs of those caught up in the scam and he condemned Flesher's actions.
''Overall, you brought the whole system into disrepute,'' he said.
While on bail for the fraud, he was at a party with his partner on June 3.
After an argument, he verbally abused the woman and her daughter then followed her home in his vehicle.
Police breathalysed Flesher at his Dunedin home and his breath-alcohol level was 723mcg - nearly three times the limit.
It was the defendant's third drink-driving conviction since 2012, the court heard.
Defence counsel Andy Belcher said a descent into substance abuse had been behind the offending but he had since cleaned himself up and now had full-time work.
''I think you thoroughly deserve to go to prison, personally,'' Judge Phillips said.
However, he imposed seven months' home detention.
The $1606 was to be repaid by Flesher immediately and he was banned from driving for 15 months.
