Depending on when you met him - and how much money you had - he would introduce himself as either Romeo Pacifico or Richard Sambora, left.

One was his real name, the other an identity stolen from the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi. By either name, Pacifico was a consummate fraudster who swindled more than $25 million.

This week, his seven-year run atop the charts ended when the Court of Criminal Appeal refused to reduce his record 16-year jail term. The unanimous decision ensures the professional concreter will serve all of his 10-year non-parole period.

Pacifico, 45, was jailed in June 2008 for 21 counts of fraud. His crimes were first uncovered by the National Australia Bank in August 2002. It had loaned Pacifico more than $640,000, and given in excess of $1.5 million to a "Richard Sambora".

The money was to lease a 2002 Holden HSV Maloo ute, a 2002 BMW 525i car, a Mercedes Benz truck and $1.8 million worth of concrete pumps.

By cross-checking accounts, the bank realised it had been duped and sought injunctions to stop him selling his assets - including 12 properties in the northeast suburbs. It was joined by 18 other banks who had, similarly, been tricked by Pacifico.

Michael Barrett, for the bank, told the Supreme Court it was "going to take quite some time to disentangle the mess".

The Pacifico/Sambora double-act became a fixture of three different court jurisdictions.

While the banks continued their Supreme Court tilt, authorities in Canberra chased the fraudster in the Federal Court and the Director of Public Prosecutions filed 87 charges with the Magistrates Court.

Prosecutors admitted it unlikely they would ever find $8.7 million of the stolen money.

Pacifico, meanwhile, claimed Sambora was his real name because he had it changed by deed poll in March 2002. The real Richard Sambora was forced to retain lawyers in Adelaide until the courts were satisfied he had no involvement in the scam.