The Bulletin originally broke the story of the holiday sales Mar. 8.

GOLD Coasters are among about 4000 people who have paid for Queensland holidays that did not exist in a year-long scam that has netted a Melbourne man about $1 million.

Unsuspecting would-be holidaymakers went on the eBay auction website and connected with seller beachesaustralia — operated by a Robert Kobis who listed his business as Cyber Blue Booking Agency — and paid between $125 and $350 for three, five and seven-night holidays in Queensland resorts including ones on the Gold Coast.

This is the first time I remember seeing eBay promise to make thousands of customers whole due to fraud committed on the site (not to say it hasn’t happened before, but it’s the only time I know of). Usually fraud is dealt with on a case by case basis. Anyone remember similar large batch refund promises?