Posted Facebook Marketplace Buyer Two Phones after Getting Screenshot of Payment. Money Not Received

LNickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 17:48
Last edited 14/03/2021 - 18:50 by 1 other user

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all doing well.

I would like your piece of advice on this matter. On Facebook market, I was selling two phones. A lady, named Jennifer B, contacts me and is interested in buying these two phones. She asked for my banking details and she sends me a screenshot of the transfer (OSKO). I never receive the money. On Thursday, she received the package with the phones and I still get no money on my account. I messaged her and she replied straight away “I will call my bank soon and the money is not on my account”. On Friday, I messaged her again to get an update and she left the conversation. And Then, I message her on her profile (Facebook) about wanting to get an update from her or I will go to the police. I have the screenshot of the “transfer”, all of our messaging and her address and her name. Also, I have the proof of sending her the package with the 2 phones including the tracking number. I am using ANZ and she used Westpac. Value of both phones is $383.

I called ANZ and they see NO payment or any transaction. Westpac told me that they cannot help me but I need to go to the police or to the courts with her if she stops replying to me. And another thing is that my sister told me that she has bad experience of waiting 5-6 business days to get a payment made from Westpac.

I would like to hear what you think of what I should do next. Doing some research, I need to report her to the police for stealing and maybe go to VCAT to get my money back. Please if you have any previous experience on a similar scenario or any advice on what to do, share with me.

Thank you for reading my story.

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  • brendanm on 14/03/2021 - 17:51
    +70

    It was a fake screenshot. Never send anything before money is in your account. You have been scammed.

    • CC123 on 14/03/2021 - 17:52
      +10

      Honestly, with gumtree/Facebook marketplace, cash only
      Especially with high-value items

      • brendanm on 14/03/2021 - 17:53
        +6

        If you use your brain, bank transfer can be ok. This seems to be an issue for a lot of people though, so cash is often safest.

        • DoctorCalculon on 14/03/2021 - 21:20
          +4

          Not if they use a forged cheque, and the receiving bank is then forced to reverse the transaction.
          So, cash is king with these "scam likely" market places.

          • TilacVIP on 15/03/2021 - 08:39
            +4

            @DoctorCalculon: Cash & a bank transfer, no one is talking cheques. I haven't received a personal cheque payment in over 30 years.

            If receiving a bank transfer I never both asking for a receipt. I tell them I will send an item as soon as the money has been received and is in a withdrawable state.

            Simple, don't send until the money is in your account and you can take it out or transfer it to another bank.

            • Quantumcat on 15/03/2021 - 14:37

              @TilacVIP: The scammer deposits the cheque themselves, not sending to the seller. It looks like a normal bank deposit on the seller's end.

    • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 17:57

      The screenshot looks very real, it even mentions my bank’s name. But i think the same, I have been scammed. Any advice on what i can do?

      • brendanm on 14/03/2021 - 17:59
        +12

        Give me your bsb and I can tell you your bank's name and the suburb the account was created in.

        There is nothing you can do, you've sent the phones. They are gone.

        • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 18:03
          +1

          Oh shit. I will go the police tonight and I will report her for stealing. Thanks. Unfor, I never had an involvement with crooks.

          • brendanm on 14/03/2021 - 18:04
            +13

            @Nickos1990: Unfortunately the police will do absolutely nothing.

            $400 odd is a cheap lesson, be thankful it wasn't a MacBook Pro or something.

            • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 19:44

              @brendanm: True!

            • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2021 - 13:20
              +2

              @brendanm: Police won't, I absolutely agree.

              I spoke to them once, and explained how easy it would be to scam someone and they just went silent.

              I got scammed 4k, I use to buy/sell via eBay and had Chinese wholesalers i'd used for 3-4 years.

              One day, they decided to disappear and the Federal Police called me and explained the situation. Basically, if it was $40,000+ the Chinese Police would investigate otherwise no chance.

              It was pretty difficult when you've dealt with someone for so long and it just happens. Back in those days, we couldn't use PayPal. Now you can probably use a credit card and just pay the fees! It's a tough gig!

              Unfortunately E-Crime policing is so behind globally it's ridiculously. Until governments work together, and states put together better E-Crime units these small time scammers will just keep scamming little amounts until 5-10+ complaints come through and they finally investigate.

              The issue is, even if they do it's probably a junkie and you'll never see your money again!!!

              You lose either way.

              • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 14:58

                @[Deactivated]: What you say, sounds solid! At least, in my case it is 383$, it could have been worse. Thank you for sharing your input and your experience. Highly appreciate it.

      • JPLengineer on 14/03/2021 - 18:00
        +2

        Always check your actual bank statement / online banking to verify funds before sending out the item. Not much recourse now.

    • AndyC1 on 14/03/2021 - 17:58
      +12

      Another ozbargain newbie.

    • Shleepy on 14/03/2021 - 18:01
      +8

      Plus, OSKO transfers are typical instantaneous -you would have been able to see the money as soon as she "sent it". Clear indicator something was wrong here…

  • tabz on 14/03/2021 - 17:53
    +17

    Sorry this happened to you, but why did you send the phones before confirming the money was in your account?

      • gromit on 15/03/2021 - 13:47
        +2

        this has been a standard warning for years. Screenshots mean nothing and are one of the most common ways to scam people. Either you have the money or you don't, nothing else is acceptable as proof of payment.

        • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 15:00
          +1

          Lesson learnt the hard way, I have more trust than I should. At least it only cost me 383$, could have been worse.

  • whooah1979 on 14/03/2021 - 17:56
    +15

    It is a shame that people still fall for the 👍 old screenshot scam.

    • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 17:58

      Hey, I have sold quite few things on facebook market and never had this issue. Do you have any piece of advice? This would be useful.

      • pegaxs on 14/03/2021 - 18:12
        +24

        Yeah, don’t send stuff until you have been paid for it and the money hits your account.

        • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 22:03
          +1

          Lesson learnt the hard way

        • SF3 on 15/03/2021 - 12:32
          -1

          Restaurants, eat first pay later.

          However, a few casual dining places, requiring pay before getting a meal.

          OP’s case, it wasn’t a restaurant scenario…

      • Quantumcat on 14/03/2021 - 19:16
        +5

        If you put all your money on black in roulette and you won a couple of times in a row that isn't a good reason to continue putting all your money on black. All those other times you were just lucky.

      • Cave Fire on 14/03/2021 - 21:43

        osko's main benefit is that it is nearly instant, maybe up to a day. Not 100% sure if they can still do bank chargebacks up to a few days after. Better to go cash…

      • TilacVIP on 15/03/2021 - 08:43
        +1

        Statistics. Chances are a good portion of buyers are real, honest & genuine, but that 1 in 10, 50 or 100 is a typical scammer & tries in on quite a few people and gets away with once in a while.

        It's easy, don't send anything until money has been received in your account.

      • SF3 on 15/03/2021 - 12:29

        Russian roulette at it again…

      • macrocephalic on 15/03/2021 - 13:32
        +1

        My advice would be to look at any of these threads that pop-up about once a week with almost the exact same situation and learn from them.

  • AndyC1 on 14/03/2021 - 17:56
    +2

    Search for other posts like yours on OZbargain and read up on loosing your money.

    • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 17:59
      -1

      Do you have any advice to offer? This is all I am interested really.

      • AndyC1 on 14/03/2021 - 18:00

        As I said "Search for other posts like yours on OZbargain and read up on loosing your money." there are allot of them for you to read.

        • DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/03/2021 - 18:21
          +8

          *losing

        • Baysew on 14/03/2021 - 18:27
          +5

          *a lot

        • SF3 on 15/03/2021 - 12:33
          +1

          ** OzBargain

        • htc on 15/03/2021 - 15:10

          People search on forums like ozbargain to learn from others' painful lesson. I think there are also some people realise that they can still scam people successfully. This post is an example of that.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2021 - 17:58
    -3

    Your screwed

  • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2021 - 17:59
    +5

    Not sure why people keep on believing screenshots.

    This literally took me under a minute to create and upload: https://i.imgur.com/vi4HmU6.png

    • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 18:02

      If only I could show you the screenshot, what you uploaded is very different.

      • buckethat on 14/03/2021 - 18:06
        +3

        Hey bud, sorry for the loss but you're unlikely to get anything in return. Take some comfort in the fact that you only lost $383 and not more and use it as a learning experience. It won't be worth your time or effort to try to get anything back, certainly wont be worth the tax dollars for the police to get involved either. You're very insistent on the screenshots being very convincing, but the reality is that its really not that hard to fake a screenshot for a bank transaction.

        Like everyone here is saying, just make sure the money is in your account before sending things off next time.

        • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 22:11

          Thank you, lesson learnt the hard way.

      • Quantumcat on 14/03/2021 - 19:18
        +2

        It is child's play to make a fake screenshot. All they have to do is schedule the payment, edit any html element to make it look like it is being sent now and not scheduled, and then use the snip tool on the resulting page. Screenshots don't mean anything I'm afraid.

      • gromit on 15/03/2021 - 13:50
        +1

        regardless, it takes seconds. All they have to do is get one real screenshot then it is easy to edit anyone elses details in, hell in many cases you can simply save the webpage details, edit the HTML and then take a screenshot of your perfect result that will be completely indistinguishable from a real one.

  • Hardlyworkin on 14/03/2021 - 18:01
    +8

    It's a pity you joined Ozbargain after making the transaction. You may have learnt what not to do earlier.

    I hope you gift wrapped the phones.

  • holdenmg on 14/03/2021 - 18:16
    +9

    Can you lock down the IMEI of each phone if you recorded it prior to "sale"

  • djones145 on 14/03/2021 - 18:18
    +16

    u got anything else to sell, I've sent u money already, will send screenshots. send me items now

    thank you

  • Seraphin7 on 14/03/2021 - 18:22
    +13

    Nickos1990
    Rate
    Member Since
    44 min ago
    Last Seen
    20 min ago
    Statistics
    1 posts / 6 comments

    There's the full story.

    • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 00:57
      -7

      IQ lower than a brick’s.

  • DBBROS on 14/03/2021 - 18:29

    From my experience and few others of ozbargain, you won't get that money back. Do report them to the police though

    • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 19:43

      Thank you, I will def do. They will possibly charge her.

      • Twix on 14/03/2021 - 20:12

        Jennifer is probably a guy that lives overseas.

      • pharkurnell on 14/03/2021 - 20:37
        +2

        the police wont give a rats arse.

      • Quantumcat on 14/03/2021 - 22:46
        +1

        The police will do absolutely nothing. Except they can give you an event number if you need it for insurance and they'll tell you to report it to ACORN (they just compile statistics on internet fraud and scams)

        • netjock on 14/03/2021 - 23:26
          +1

          they'll tell you to report it to ACORN

          Typical of the police. Getting you to do their job too.

  • Hithere on 14/03/2021 - 18:29
    +2

    Is there a full moon tonight or something?

    Forum's full of 1 post wonders.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2021 - 18:45

    What phones we talking? Op probs got greedy and took full price offer, that would be the first sign..

    • htc on 15/03/2021 - 15:13

      I was thinking that, the price was so attractive to the op, op wants to seal the deal before the buyer change his/her mind.

  • Drakesy on 14/03/2021 - 19:10
    +3

    Geezus, you'd think with all the forum posts on here about the number of times this has happened on gumtree/marketplace people would learn…

    Cash or nothing.

    I'm sorry but unfortunately there's not a lot of recourse here other than reporting them.

    • AndyC1 on 14/03/2021 - 19:29

      They can't even search, so what do you expect?

      • Drakesy on 14/03/2021 - 19:50
        +9

        Wasn't being a smart hole.
        And i'm not even saying this in hindsight.
        Ozbargain is full of posts on this exact topic spanning back years, all of which have reached the same conclusion
        Anyone can edit html code or photoshop

        Cash or nothing

    • netjock on 14/03/2021 - 23:27
      +2

      That is why the saying "there is a sucker born every day" never gets old.

    • TilacVIP on 15/03/2021 - 08:49
      +1

      People don't need to be an Ozbargain member and frequent these this site to avoid being ripped off like this.

      You just need common sense. If you don't excersize common sense, you will have to learn the hard way.

      Anyone who does what the OP did, is an idiot. Sorry OP, but no point sugar coating it. Give yourself a couple of upper cuts and learn from this as it seems you're a regular seller on places like FB and gumtree.

  • SF3 on 14/03/2021 - 19:24

    This is Judge Judy material.

    • bdl on 14/03/2021 - 20:47

      Well, technically, Dr Oz. :)

      • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 22:05

        Very funny… sure

  • Porker on 14/03/2021 - 20:12
    +3

    If you sent the phones, you'd know where she lives. Go visit her (unless she's in a different state).

    • JimmyF on 14/03/2021 - 20:30

      Most likely a fake address, ie empty house for sale. No one there, so the buyer can watch the tracking and pick up the item from the doorstep etc.

  • JimmyF on 14/03/2021 - 20:29
    +2

    She asked for my banking details and she sends me a screenshot of the transfer (OSKO).

    Sounds fair

    I never receive the money.

    It is OSKO, so it should be near instant transfer these days, if not sit tight and wait for it to arrive.

    On Thursday, she received the package with the phones

    Why would you ever send items to someone when payment hasn't been received?

    Did you record the phone details? IMEI etc? At least get the blocked so they can't use them here.

    • Nickos1990 on 14/03/2021 - 22:06

      Thank you for helpful post. Never had any bad experience on facebook market place after using for 3 years. I guess that I have learnt the hard way. Now preparing report for the police.

      • Quantumcat on 14/03/2021 - 22:48
        +1

        Now preparing report for the police

        Wasting your time unless it is for insurance purposes

      • JimmyF on 14/03/2021 - 23:10
        +2

        Honestly sorry for your loss. The best you can do as the 'legal' owner of these devices, is request the IMEI of the devices be blocked so the scammer can't use them/resell them.

        • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 00:47

          Again thank you very much. I really appreciate your help and not laughing with my situation. These phones are not worth much and I don’t think they can be blocked with imei. I will do the police report for fraud as something tells me that she has a record. And I may also go to vcat in case I can get my money back. Again thank you 🙏

          • gromit on 15/03/2021 - 13:53
            +3

            @Nickos1990: nearly all phones can be blocked, this is not a feature of the phone, it is the telco's refusing to register the phone on their network.

            • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 14:41

              @gromit: Good Advice!

              • gromit on 15/03/2021 - 15:00

                @Nickos1990: Just too expand on this advise wise. Gumtree and Facebook marketplace are scam central, the fact you have not been scammed as a regular user prior to this I find amazing. It is worthwhile a bit of a search on OzBargain and Whirlpool as to the various tricks scammers use, from the screenshots as proof of purchase to deposits into your bank account using cheques that bounce, accidentally paying to much and asking you to refund the difference to a new account only to find the original payment is then reversed and a host of variations in between. Education is the key to avoiding being scammed, add to that cash is king in these unregulated scam heavy markets. You will find plenty examples all over this forum and whirlpool.

                • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 15:02

                  @gromit: THANK you VERY MUCH! I guess this is very good advice for anyone also looking for it in the future. I always sell stuff on Facebook market (things I do not need or whatever else) and never had any issues, I have even made 2 friends. But there are crooks and I was not smart. Lesson learnt the hard way and I hope people will avoid being in my shoes. 383$ isn’t a huge amount but still it is a good amount of money to be stolen.

                  • gromit on 15/03/2021 - 15:07

                    @Nickos1990: where there is money crooks are sure to follow, sadly they prey on those that are trusting. It isn't fair and yes I would be thankful the amount isn't too big so a good lesson. No need to feel bad about it, many of us have been scammed in one way or another over the years to learn the hard way. For me it was 20 years ago in London buying what was supposed to be a leather jacket, so it cost me a lot more than your $383 lesson :-)

                    • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 15:08

                      @gromit: Thank you for your words! You have been fantastic!

  • pharkurnell on 14/03/2021 - 20:36

    Farcebook FTW strikes again

  • Muzeeb on 14/03/2021 - 20:47
    +3

    Troll post?

    • Yummy on 14/03/2021 - 22:15
      +1

      Feel sorry for me pls - post.

  • Scantu on 14/03/2021 - 22:22
    +2

    Don't want to rub it in but for the sake of everyone else - if it's on a computer, it can be faked. Hell pretty much everything can be faked.

    Videos can be faked. Snapchats can be saved. Photos can be doctored. You can change any text on your phone you want. If its on a computer, phone etc. it can very very easily be changed.

    • netjock on 14/03/2021 - 23:28
      +1

      Anti vaxers, flat earth and conspiracies cannot be faked online. The internet is the only thing keeping these things going.

    • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 00:48

      True, I learnt the hard way. Never had a crook with my sales on facebook 3 years now.

  • newjerseydamo on 15/03/2021 - 11:32
    +1

    I'm selling stuff at the moment. In the ad I even said pickup only, but someone messaged me asking if I would post and they would transfer whilst I was at the post office.
    I laughed at them. I never, ever, send anything without the money being in my account, and even then I strictly do that on OCAU only as it's a fairly closed community with history to see who are good and bad with transactions.

    Facebook/Gumtree?
    Two words: Cash. Pickup.

    You will have to take them to court as a civil matter in an effort to retrieve funds, and also file a police report.
    But nothing will come of it since everything they've supplied you smells fake.

    • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 14:26

      Thank you, lesson learnt the hard way for me!

  • SF3 on 15/03/2021 - 12:44

    Has more people become super gullible with technology advancements (eg instant gratification)?

    It’s always been money needs to be seen in seller’s bank account, before an item is shipped.

    At least OP’s bubble world has burst, and hopefully has been taught a life lesson… 🤞

  • BertieBrown on 15/03/2021 - 13:38

    As newjerseydamo said above, and I would absolutely a million times agree. Get it in cash.

    Even if you have to wait longer for a genuine sale, wait until someone will buy it with slightly warm, dry, cash.

  • cashless on 15/03/2021 - 13:41
    +2

    I never receive the money. On Thursday, she received the package with the phones

    Why did you send the phones before receiving the money?
    Jennifer [will] B v happy with freebies.
    Best hope for you is that you kept IMEI numbers and can try to block.
    Or maybe "find my phone" active?

  • SM1LE on 15/03/2021 - 13:58

    You do realise that OSKO payments are instant…….

    • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 14:42

      Not always! I have instances that it took 2-3 business days (different banks obviously).

  • twodollah on 15/03/2021 - 14:16
    +2

    Can we impose a one week waiting period before new accounts can make forum posts…

    • Nickos1990 on 15/03/2021 - 14:27
      -3

      Can you please move on… I guess you have a lot of time in your hands for posting idiotic proposals in a thread seeking some advice…

      • twodollah on 15/03/2021 - 15:03

        You're right, I'm definitely the idiot. Says the guy who got scammed

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