Scammed by a dumb scammer. What do I do next?

Scammed by a dumb scammer. What do I do next?

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Discussion

StuVT

Original Poster:

81 posts

118 months

Saturday 28th September
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The initial message was deleted from this topic on 29 September 2024 at 11:45

Simpo Two

87,026 posts

272 months

Saturday 28th September
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StuVT said:
Long story short. Left £200 deposit via bank transfer delivery scheduled for today. No show. Used another Facebook account and he is now taking viewings for the car tomorrow.
Go round with the balance in cash tomorrow and collect it...

StuVT

Original Poster:

81 posts

118 months

Saturday 28th September
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He's a scammer. Put up a parody advert stating he's a scammer and I've had loads of messages from other people. He's made a significant sum thus weekend from 1 advert alone

interstellar

3,778 posts

153 months

Saturday 28th September
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You have to chalk it up.

Sending £200 to someone you don’t know fours hours away is asking for trouble sadly.

Yellow Lizud

2,496 posts

171 months

Saturday 28th September
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StuVT said:
Scammed by a dumb scammer. What do I do next?
Not sure why you think the scammer is the dumb one.

What you do next is close all you Facebook accounts and never, ever, have anything to do with it again.
Facebook is the devil incarnate. There isn't a scam or con trick around that doesn't involve Facebook.

Then you go and look at a car local to you, inspect it and speak to the person selling it. If you are buying privately meet the seller at their house (Not the pub car park or some random house they happen to be standing out side of).
If you pay a deposit then use a credit card.
If you wish to pay the balance by bank transfer, do it on the premises when you collect the car.

If the seller doesn't like any of that then walk away.
Then throw a massive party and celebrate the fact you only lost £200 - it could have been a lot worse.



Sheepshanks

34,968 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th September
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StuVT said:
He's a scammer. Put up a parody advert stating he's a scammer and I've had loads of messages from other people. He's made a significant sum thus weekend from 1 advert alone
Why did loads of people want it - was it cheap or something unusual?

Edited by Sheepshanks on Sunday 29th September 06:50

Dan_1981

17,538 posts

206 months

Saturday 28th September
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I'd be surprised if the address is genuine

CanAm

10,035 posts

279 months

Sunday 29th September
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Dan_1981 said:
I'd be surprised if the address is genuine
Yes it's probably 4 hours away from wherever a potential buyer victim is calling from.

Pistom

5,569 posts

166 months

Sunday 29th September
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How do these scams work?

Has the OP sent £200 to a private individual with a promise of a car being brought to them?

I suppose it's not unreasonable for a seller to ask for such a deposit but how would you proceed with a deal like this and protect yourself from being scammed?

I've sold cars unseen by the buyer, they just sent full payment and on occasion it's been weeks before the transport company collected.

I've always recognised the potential to run off with the money but haven't on account of me telling the buyer they can have the car I've advertised in exchange for the money they sent me.

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

26 months

Sunday 29th September
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I don't think, as a seller, I would be offering to deliver a car 4 hours away on the strength of someone paying me £200. What if I get there and they are wasting my time?

Similarly, I definitely wouldn't be sending £200 to someone I've never met who allegedly is selling a car.

What car is this and how much is it 'for sale' for?

Cats_pyjamas

1,598 posts

155 months

Sunday 29th September
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If you have his bank details it would be a shame if someone were to set up a direct debit to a charity.

Alex Z

1,506 posts

83 months

Sunday 29th September
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The address won’t be genuine. They don’t have a car, and they are quite happy making £200 a time from their victims.

Whatever123

2,465 posts

28 months

Sunday 29th September
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No comments on the irony of the title? what on earth is PH coming to hehe

Yellow Lizud

2,496 posts

171 months

Sunday 29th September
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Alex Z said:
The address won’t be genuine. They don’t have a car, and they are quite happy making £200 a time from their victims.
Yep, spot on.

Deep Thought

36,735 posts

204 months

Sunday 29th September
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Alex Z said:
The address won’t be genuine. They don’t have a car, and they are quite happy making £200 a time from their victims.
^^^^
This

Deep Thought

36,735 posts

204 months

Sunday 29th September
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StuVT said:
He obviously had more interest than he expected so decided to see how much more he could get.

Would have been nice to get a message explaining and my deposit back but that's society today.
Sorry to break this to you, but there was never a car.

He's just raking in £200 a time from people.

GasEngineer

1,165 posts

69 months

Sunday 29th September
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Whatever123 said:
No comments on the irony of the title? what on earth is PH coming to hehe
See 4th post....

Whatever123

2,465 posts

28 months

Sunday 29th September
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GasEngineer said:
Whatever123 said:
No comments on the irony of the title? what on earth is PH coming to hehe
See 4th post....
Good to see PH reading standards haven’t disappeared either biggrin

NikBartlett

626 posts

88 months

Sunday 29th September
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You could accidentally pass his account details onto another scammer laugh

martinbiz

3,369 posts

152 months

Sunday 29th September
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Cats_pyjamas said:
If you have his bank details it would be a shame if someone were to set up a direct debit to a charity.
Of course yes, because you can get into his account and do that with just a name, sort code and account number