Fake colonel poses as rich doctor to buy $ 60,000 Porsche

A man who once pretended to be a decorated Kiwi soldier has now resurfaced in the guise of a wealthy doctor trying to buy a $ 60,000 Porsche from his partner.

However, Bruce Reid’s latest trick has got him in trouble again.

In 2011, he ended up earlier in court after donning medals and dressing as a lieutenant colonel in New Zealand’s intelligence agency while trying to pay for a property inspection.

Now, a Christchurch car dealership has taken its former partner to Motor Vehicle Dispute Court for unpaid bills after Reid bought a $ 59,990 Porshe Boxster.

Reid, who signed his emails as Dr. James Reid, a doctor of forensic psychology from the University of New South Wales, told Archibalds Motors that he was looking for a gift for his partner.

“He wants a convertible and a manual. He likes the look of the Boxter. My maximum budget is $ 90,000,” Reid wrote in an email to the dealer, according to the court’s decision.

“Well then we better keep her happy,” replied a merchant who responded to Reid as “Dr. Reid.”

The dealership then delivered the Wellington Porsche Boxster to Reid’s partner in Christchurch in December 2018, despite never receiving payment.

It wasn’t until March 2019, two months after the Porsche was delivered, that the dealer realized that the car had not been paid for and went after Reid.

Archibald’s business manager initially emailed Reid on March 5, 2019, asking him to review his bank account.

“I know you remembered paying it in front of Jarrod and he remembers much the same, but could you please refer to the dates that you left your account and let us know the exact figures and that our Archibalds Account was paid,” the manager wrote.

Reid responded by email saying “happy to help.”

“I’m in the meeting most of today. I’ll call my bank tomorrow morning and get the information you need,” he said, as he said goodbye as Dr. Reid.

Less than a week later, Reid responded to a dealer inquiry again, saying that “his personal banker had a tough job finding him as I make similar payments. [sic] to that at least four times a week to various charities. “

Later, Reid told Archibalds Motors that his former accountant had “embezzled” more than $ 200,000 of his money.

Eventually, the dealership contacted Reid’s former partner.

He returned the car when he realized it hadn’t been paid for.

However, Archibalds Motors took her to Motor Vehicle Court to recover $ 21,033 in costs she spent trying to get the car back.

The woman told the court that “you now know that Mr. Reid is a notorious con artist who has been involved in many scams.”

“She warns that there is a police investigation into this matter underway,” the court’s decision said.

“Without wishing to interrupt any ongoing police investigation into this matter, the documentary evidence presented to the court makes it very clear that Archibalds has been the victim of fraud committed by Mr. Reid or someone who uses that alias.”

“Archibalds has been defrauded by its lax process to ensure that it has received payment in respect of a vehicle before that vehicle is delivered to the prospective buyer.”

The court’s decision said that Reid’s former partner returned the car as soon as he realized it had not been paid for and that he had not seen any evidence that he was aware of prior to March 2019. Reid had defrauded the dealer.

Consequently, the court dismissed Archibald Motors’ claim that it should pay the $ 21,033 in costs.