G'day.
So I've been in a stressful situation since last Saturday and need some help. I'll try to do a quick run through of everything that had happened.
I put up an ad on Gumtree for some games I wanted to buy. A guy responded and we negotiated a good deal; $140. I sent him the agreed $140 through bank transfer. He then said he preferred cardless cash and threatened to give the game to someone else unless I paid him via cardless cash. Mind you, he sent me his bank details despite wanting cashless. I really wanted the games so I told him I'd give him $140 via cardless if he sent me $140 back. I got a receipt of the supposed $140 transfer he 'sent back' and I sent him the $140 cashless. Fast forward over a week, and he never sent me the games despite making several promises. The $140 transfer he sent never arrived, which all but confirms he sent me a fake receipt. He later agreed to refund me the full $280 I've now lost, but now he's sitting on my money. Any and all responses has been extremely slow or have been ignored outright and he's now virtually refusing to do a task that'd take him literal minutes. I know $280 is mickey mouse money in comparison to some other scams on here, but it doesn't take away the fact that it's made me extremely stressed.
Some other things; the guy is a compulsive liar. He initially said he was 67 only to later say he was in his 30's. He has also said he could post my game on several occasions but never did. One of such occasions was last Thursday, which was supposedly his off-day, only to say he was busy working when he never sent it. He is also with ME Bank.
(EDIT: since a lot of people thinks he's from the same state as I) - The guy is from Victoria, Melbourne. I don't have his address because I stupidly missed him offering to send me his license, but I can guess he's around South Bank, since that's where he said he could meet at. I'm from South Australia.
I've been in contact with both mine and his bank since last week. My bank has been useless as always, and I'm awaiting a response from ME. I've also got into contact with Gumtree over suspending his account. Whilst I wait for these responses, I'm wondering if my case has any chance of being picked up by the police. I know it's probable that my chances are low, but at this stage I'm quite desperate. I'm hoping something as small as a phone call by the police could shake him enough to give my bloody money back. I also know that I'm a fool for blindly sending a stranger money. I've been scammed from bank transfers before, so I don't know why I keep making the same mistakes, but I've now sworn to a strict no bank transfer policy.
Any and all help would be appreciated.
*** UPDATE ***
Alright, I've heard you guys loud and clear. I am a hopeless idiot probably living off backdoor rub-and-tubs whilst smoking ice in the streets next to the garbage bins. I've finally learnt my lesson and I'll be sure not to repeat it again. However, I've searched the bloke's number online and turns out he's a serial scammer. I don't want to risk suspension or ban by posting specifics but he has been scamming for at least 3 years now. His real name has been out and about and three supposed addresses (all within Victoria and coincidentally, 35 ~ minute driving distance to South Bank) has been linked with him. Apparently he's even been imprisoned for 20 months but is now out on parole or have been released. Obviously, that all should be taken with a grain of salt (I could speak) but this information has been repeated by multiple people on multiple websites over multiple months. Some have apparently reported this to ACORN and Victoria Police, but he's clearly still operating, whether it's him himself or an accomplice or two.
I believe I have his current bank details - he has previously been with two others, and a phone number that he has been using for a while and clearly didn't think to change. This on top of his real name, addresses, etc that I've found.
Any further help would be appreciated - I do hope that I can at least help take down this bogan back to the hole he was born in.
When will people learn.