Patricia McIntyre, Convicted of Past Fraud, Accused of New Pet and House-Sitting Schemes
An individual with prior fraud convictions, Patricia Anne McIntyre, is currently facing allegations of operating a pet and house-sitting fraudulent scheme across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Since 2019, multiple individuals have accused Patricia Anne McIntyre, 55, of obtaining an estimated $75,000 through alleged fraudulent activities, including unpaid loans, unfulfilled bond cleaning services, and online marketplace schemes.
Prior Convictions and Sentences
McIntyre received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in 2023, with parole eligibility after seven months. The convictions from 2023 pertained to offenses committed while she was on parole, following an earlier imprisonment in 2021.
In 2021, McIntyre was convicted of defrauding $26,000 from multiple individuals seeking rental properties on Queensland's Sunshine Coast through fictitious tenancy offers. While on parole, she defrauded nine additional individuals of $18,000 by posting fraudulent online advertisements for car sales. One victim, a 16-year-old, reportedly paid McIntyre $3,200 for a car that was never delivered. The victim's mother stated that her son had performed due diligence, including requesting McIntyre's license, home address, and car registration, and verifying the car was not stolen.
Restitution was not provided to victims of these property rental or car sale frauds.
Recent Pet and House-Sitting Allegations
Recently, additional individuals have made allegations that McIntyre accepted thousands of dollars in pre-payments for pet and house-sitting services over the past year that were subsequently not provided.
Alleged Victim Accounts
Dreu Ellison, a Maryborough resident, reported arranging cat-sitting services with McIntyre online in January 2025. Ms. Ellison stated she paid $1,050 in deposits for multiple dates. According to Ms. Ellison, McIntyre cancelled each booking shortly before the scheduled date, providing varying reasons. Ms. Ellison recounted a text message from McIntyre citing a family illness. Ms. Ellison challenged this, alleging inconsistency with other reported activities of McIntyre. Ms. Ellison also stated she informed McIntyre of her intent to contact police. Ms. Ellison estimates her total financial loss at approximately $3,000, encompassing the unreturned deposit, and costs for alternative accommodation, flights, and a replacement pet sitter.
In April, Sydney resident Linda Wong reported a similar experience, stating she organized pet sitting for her six cats for 10 days in August. Ms. Wong paid a $350 deposit. She reported developing suspicions after receiving a handwritten contract that allegedly contained incorrect fees and required full upfront payment. The service was not provided, and Ms. Wong's deposit was not refunded.
McIntyre's Response
When approached for comment, McIntyre denied the pet and house-sitting allegations. She stated, "I did my time in the past," and claimed to have "actually been paying back a couple of people from cancelled sits." No further details were provided regarding how simultaneously scheduled pet-sitting services would have been fulfilled.
Victim Coordination and Police Response
Several individuals who attempted to report McIntyre's alleged activities stated that their complaints to police did not result in criminal proceedings, with some being advised to pursue civil action. Laine Taylor, an alleged victim, reported being advised by police that her complaint was a civil matter, despite her view that it represented a pattern of behavior. Ms. Taylor stated she paid McIntyre for a bond clean in 2020 that was not performed, requiring her to complete the cleaning herself.
Subsequently, Ms. Taylor established the "Victims of Trish McIntyre/Tricia Harrison" Facebook group to facilitate information sharing among those who allege to be victims of McIntyre's activities. The group currently has over 50 members and includes former associates of McIntyre. Members have also compiled a list of alleged aliases used by McIntyre, including Trish Mac, Trish McIntyre, Trish Anne, Trich Mc (Pattie), Tricia Harrison, Trish Harrison (Trish Mac), Patti Mac, and Pattie Mcçcc.
Court Decisions and Victim Concerns
In 2021, McIntyre successfully appealed her 2021 sentence, resulting in a court order removing the requirement for her to pay restitution. Sarah Biddlecombe, a member of the victim group, expressed concern about the alleged ongoing nature of the fraudulent activities. She stated her perception that McIntyre faces minimal consequences, spending limited time in custody and not being required to return funds, suggesting a lack of deterrence within the legal system. Biddlecombe characterized the alleged offenses as a "pattern of years and years of offending in the same area of crime with so many victims," despite some police categorizing them as "lower level."
Law Enforcement Statements
The Queensland Police Service and Victoria Police stated they are unable to comment on individual cases due to privacy regulations. However, alleged victims have provided documentation indicating their reports were received. New South Wales Police confirmed that inquiries regarding a complaint about an unfulfilled dog-sitting service are currently active. Alleged victims assert that tens of thousands of dollars remain unreturned.