Two mobile phone scammers were given jail time today for their part in a phones racket, which cost the telco thousands.

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The scheme involved ordering phones online and sending them to empty properties, where another individual would pick up the delivery slips and claim the goods in post offices.

The phones were given to another man and sold, AAP reports.

The two males convicted, Salil Ghag and Mandeep Chawla, both Indian nationals and former students, were portrayed in court as the “middle men” behind the scheme, both receiving around $100,000 for their efforts, the Victorian County Court heard today.

The third man involved in the plot has yet to be sentenced, and made $764,000 from the scam.

“The fraud perpetrated on Telstra was comprehensive and well planned,” Judge Chris O’Neill said.

Ironically, Ghag aged 28, had wanted to buy a Telstra franchise with the proceeds of his con operation, the court also heard.

The duo, hailing from Melbourne’s western suburb of Pascoe Vale, pleaded guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Gulag was jailed for two years with 18 months suspension while Chawla received a two years and two months sentence but with a similar suspended term.