Have I Been Scammed? Facebook Marketplace Sold Item, Came to My House & PayID Was Done Whilst I Watched! UPDATED: 28 August

Bit of a weird one and I am thinking i have been scammed but it seems different to all the ones that i have seen.

Details:

  • advertised on Facebook Marketplace on Sunday to sell my Apple Studio Display monitor
  • get a Facebook message from someone saying he would like to buy but asks for best price - i knock off $100 - and he agrees to the price
  • he says he will pick it up and asks best way to pay - i tell him direct bank deposit please - he says ok
  • he turns up on Tuesday this week and is a nice guy - we have a long chat about Teslas and him working for Star City Casino as a Supervisor there
  • tells me he lives in Homebush
  • well dressed etc (not sure that means anything but still)
  • he shows me his CBA app and him paying me by Payid and then he sends me the receipt right away by text where it shows his CBA bsb and account number. It is the EXACT receipt screen shot for a Payid payment - i literally saw him do it on his CBA app
  • the money doesn't go through straight away but the receipt does say it takes 24 hours to go through for accounts that are not known - i am ok with that
  • we chat more - he tells me about his brother and about his computers etc
  • he leaves with my Apple Studio Display
  • he texts me a few hours later asking if i can send him the receipt for when i bought the display - i say no problems and send it
  • i then contact him after 24 hours and tell him i haven't received the payment - he texts back saying it is 'pending' on his side
  • however since yesterday afternoon he is now uncontactable - if i ring his number it is always engaged and no text messages back since yesterday lunchtime and no money in my account
  • his Facebook profile i now cannot see - he may have blocked me maybe?

Is this a scam? It just seems different to the ones where it is me having to pay money etc. And it also seems strange he would come to my house and show me his CBA app and the receipt with his account details. What about if he got to my house and i didn't sell it because the money didn't get through straight away? There just seems so many ways this could have gone wrong for him if it is indeed a scam which seems like it probably is.

So i guess it is a scam?

EDIT:

This is the Payid CBA receipt i got:

https://ibb.co/jVhVD1Z

UPDATE 28 August:

Another poster was scammed the same way using the same type of receipt by the mysterious 'Deon Hong' on Saturday.

This guy … I wonder how many others he has scammed?

This is the Payid receipt that the other poster got:

https://ibb.co/cCcS6L8

These are the receipts side by side:

https://ibb.co/gZXxf7c

Mine is on the right

What we do know now:

-somehow he makes up the Payid on the spot which is pretty good for him to do that! Bravo Deon!!
-the other poster got his rego
-the other poster went to cops - I will go to cops tomorrow
-it could just be high end Mac goods?
-goes by Deon Hong on FB
-uses a photo of squid game actor

Questions now are:

-are even his account details correct as per those Payid screenshots? If he is creating the Payid receipts then why would you put your own account details?
-is his mobile number correct? REMOVED
-his rego number is possibly the only actual identifier of this person

UPDATE 30 AUGUST

We're closing in!

Third victim now who has video footage.

Deon - we are coming for you!

UPDATE 13 SEPT

We got him!

'Deon' was charged and arrested yesterday. Bail refused.

Thanks to all the victims who provided valuable identifying information to the police.

Podcast and Netflix doco to come…

Comments

      • I stand corrected. @harro112 is correct. **CBA (and possibly others) will hold for ~24hours for new payments to accounts. **

        • it's been 5 business days

  • +3

    Cash. Is. King.

    • -5

      It's not, fake cash is very sophisticated these days I've dealt with ones where it feels almost like the real thing.

      • +4

        At least with fake cash you can buy something with it and pass the problem on to someone else.

      • +1

        Please.

      • If it's that sophisticated then a bunch of other places aren't going to notice either. So cash remains king. And no, I don't mean "pass it off" - I mean if YOU can't tell then nearly everywhere else except a bank and ColesWorths self-tellers aren't going to notice either. I could go through 10x garages, hairdressers, local convenience store, etc and no-one, not even us, would know until it finally winds up at a bank.

  • So many dishonest scum bags around these days. Bunch of C U Next Tuesday's!

  • +2

    I tried to legit Payid someone $600 the other day. It was successful and then an hour later NAB locked my account due to possible fraud and cancelled the payment to “protect me”

    So never consider a payment successful until the money is in your account.

    Took Nab four weeks to unlock my account even after I told them it was a legit transaction and I accept all liability. I’ve since closed my account with them. Idiots.

    • +1

      Ah memories. I was on ebay YEARS before there was a .au site… My bank would lock my account every time I bought something in the USA and upon logging in there was an email requiring me to phone them to unlock it. One day I asked the rep was this going to happen every time. They said if I wanted to they could put a note on my account not to query it. YES PLEASE.

  • +7

    The amount of dumb people in this thread who let people leave with goods that havent cleared in their accounts is why scammers will always be around to scam people.

  • no point reading, yes,.. gumtree or facebook = cash only mate

  • Ahh people suck. It’s becoming so common place. Such a brazen act of theft. What is the world coming to when people are so willing to steal off others rather than make their own money. I really hope you get your money.

  • Wait a few days. Should be fine

    • +2

      receipt date was 22 aug .. today is 25 aug.

  • Apple Studio display has a CPU chip right? I wonder if apple can block/track it using serial number?

    • how does he prove his case to the apple police that control the monitor CPU chips?

      • Idk, they have find my in phones so why not monitors lol

  • +1

    How many times do we have to say this? Don’t let they take anything unless the fund is cleared.

    And yeah CBA does hold payment for new payee for 24 hours, which sucks. I’m a CBA customer, and every time I’m paying someone new with PayID, I had to transfer the funds out to my Up account and then pay the seller.

    • for at least 24 hours
      And if it doesn't clear by a Friday the weekends are dead zones

  • +1

    Sorry but I think you have been scammed. I say this since you are unable to get in contact with him.

  • 22 Aug is the receipt date.

    If (a) it hasn't arrived in your acct now and (b) you cannot contact him, then sorry bro, scammed.

  • Sorry. Scammed.
    I remember not too long ago people making fun of everyone for carrying around cash and paying for Facebook and gumtree purchases…..saying payid is the best and cash is old etc. Cash is old…but honestly it's the only way to pay for things on marketplace.

    Oh how the turned tables

  • Mate, never hand over the goods until you have possession of cash or can see the transaction as having credited to your account. Never take the word or promise of a stranger, no matter how convincing it sounds or what 'evidence' of pending transaction they produce. Never. End of story.

  • +1

    Facebook Marketplace/Scumtree = Cash.

    Don't do it to yourselves.

  • +2

    I don't really see how this is PayIDs fault entirely - more like people no longer applying the golden rule of no money in account = no sale.

    Sure, it should be instant and sometimes it's not, seriously people accepting transfers done on people's phones is like the next evolution of receiving assume Photoshopped transfer or PayPal receipt.

    Unfortunately makes it hard for genuine people now cos they won't accept payID at all even if giving them whatever time they want to receive the money cos they'll think it can be magically reversed or some other scam tactic.

  • Just go to Star City Casino if it was legit which in this case seems like not and grab him off his neck and make a scene if there is a slight possibility.

  • +7

    PayID takes 48hrs if it’s large transfer to a new account. ALWAYS ask them to transfer $1 first and that will be instant. Then transfer the rest and that will also be instant.
    Did this twice already and works perfectly

  • +1

    It is sad because of scammers, the trades are becoming risky.
    There was an interesting story ( I often purchase JB Hi Cards @10% off) where
    1. A seller who provided me the JB Hi Fi code without waiting for the money to clear- I asked him to wait, but he said don't worry. It was a fairly big amount. Will always buy from him again.
    2. There was a seller who insisted that we wait 24 hrs even after he received the money in his account before sharing the JB Hi Fi code. It was highly frustrating.
    Will think twice before any further transactions with him. It was a smallish amount.

  • +1

    Why do people allow buyers to take their stuff BEFORE the payment is cleared? I sold my last car last year and accepted payid payment for $22,000. Their bank blocked it for 24 hours for security reasons (as told by bank support).

    That's completely understandable, but I told the buyer see you tomorrow because the car will be yours only AFTER the money is in my account. All went well. I can't imagine a single reason to not wait until the money arrives though.

  • I've had a few CBA payments (both ways) take a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time to go through.
    However if you have been scammed the guy has a work ethic at least. I mean how did he know there weren't CCTV cameras around?

  • Cash only unless it's a sum you're willing to lose it the person turns out to be dodgy. I've had a couple of times where a person turned up and could only pay by bank transfer. As both times the value of the product was under $50 I was happy to take the risk. Luckily they were good, honest people each time. But if it's a sum I'm going to kick myself over losing, cash every time.

  • This is very common practice recently got randoms attempted the same thing. Don't use Pay ID and don't let them someone else to pick up your goods

    • You've had people come to your door and make a payid payment in front of you?

      This is very different to the payid scam where they say someone will collect, ask for your payid, then ask for your email so they can send you fake screenshots saying the money is being held for whatever reason.

      There's nothing wrong with being paid by payid, the only mistake here was letting him take the goods before it landed.

      • Nope the buyer usually say pay you payid beforehand and have someone else pick up the goods they don't even show up that's very suss

        Then likely the person pick up your goods after you thought you got the payment but they might use CBA withholding flaw to reverse the transaction.

        Thats how they got your goods without paying

        • +1

          Completely different scenario, This person came to OP's house and made a fake transfer in front of them. OP saw them do the "transfer" but it was all fake

  • +10

    Look I get all the 'only accept cash' comments. And yep I have learnt a lesson for sure. But this just seem didn't seem to fit the normal scam situation. All he ends up with is a monitor that he now has to sell or use i guess. I have got automated save searches at Gumtree and FC Marketplace and I am honestly desperate for him to sell it there. If not, he then keeps it. But the process he had to go through to get it! Oh man to be honest - I would forego the money and just want him to tell me his entire process and how it worked.

    • +2

      if it's any consolation for your loss, the time spent with these replies is worth about twice as much as your loss

    • If there's a chance this guy just saw an opportunity and cancelled his payment, maybe the info you got while having a chat is real and you can track him down. At the very least put in a police report with what you know.

    • +1

      If he blocked you in Facebook, you won't be able to see the items he post for sale.
      You need to used another account. Maybe follow his public market profile.

    • I think there is a high chance he found the item because he wanted/needed it.
      At a guess, if with CBA, he pre prepared the schedule a payment transfer (photoshopped to look like confirmation of transfer), and if you belived it he leaves with the item.
      If you don't let him leave with the item, he claims he accidentally did schedule a payment instead of transfer payment and he then actually does the transfer.

      • He'd have to be pretty good at predicting the future, since the transaction time exactly matches the actual time in the screenshot :D

    • he shows me his CBA app and him paying me by Payid and then he sends me the receipt right away by text where it shows his CBA bsb and account number. It is the EXACT receipt screen shot for a Payid payment - i literally saw him do it on his CBA app

      That is probably how he did it… made a fake app. Everything you saw was on HIS phone (not your own). So the solution next time is don't let the item go until payment is in your account.

    • All he ended up with is his cash and your monitor. many scammers make a living doing nothing but this. Obviously the monitor was worth quite a bit if you were able and happy to give a $100 discount, most of them retail for $2000+ new. Even if it was just $500 monitor this is a huge win for them.

  • +3

    Have you tried dialling his number with caller ID hidden? This may get around call blocking if he's specifically blocked your number, but doesn't block No Caller ID's.

  • +1

    If payid needs 24 hours to transfer to new account, would it work if we ask the buyer to transfer small amount of money day before the transaction?

  • +1

    Apple users posting their Ls online

  • This is what comes with the cashless economy that everyone is being forced to accept.

    I tried to pay in cash at a retail store yesterday and the teenage girl at the checkout said: "Really?" - and rolled her eyes.

    I smiled back, because that is what you do with people who don't know better.

    Sure. Why don't I use PayID or a Credit Card with a surcharge … honestly, cash will always be king.

    • +2

      What cashless economy? OP wasn't forced to accept digital transfer, it was of their own volition.

      In virtually every way but for protection against scams, with few exceptions, cashless is a better system. It's not some conspiracy. It's just easier, quicker and less burdensome. Ditching cash is the natural progression when a superior replacement appears.

      • Only for the new younger generation of people who banks are now marketing and tailoring themselves too.
        Old folk in majority prefer cash for many reasons.

      • -2

        All third world economies use cash only do do you want to live in a third world economy?
        Digital economy means everything can traced criminals use cash because it cannot be traced.
        Imagine using EFTPOS or PAYID to purchase drugs? Now you see why cash is bad

    • -4

      bitcoin is the answer

    • -1

      Forced?

    • Cash is king for picking up crap on marketplace…digital economy the rest of the time :-)

    • Shoulda said… "You're on TikTok, right?"

      Uhm… yeah.

      Thought so. (Roll your eyes.)

    • -1

      Colesworth will gladly accept your cash to buy tinfoil for your hats

  • +5

    They sell fake licences on the dark web for $500, so people on here who think because they had someone license it's safe you are dead wrong LOL.

    I wouldn't hand anything til money is cleared, if its a huge sum I'd meet someone at their bank!

    Someone came to buy one of my cars, they gave me cash! Simple.

    Now with the fact it can be reversed, it's safer to get cash for everything. It's a bit of a worry, because the police don't do anything.

    Half of them are gambling addicts, meth heads and the money is long gone!

  • RTFM (ozbargain edition); Cash only!

    • Cash only for drugs

  • -1

    You cannot schedule a payid payment.. show us the receipt.

    • he did link the receipt .. re-read original post

  • +1

    Where is everyone getting the idea that it was real CBA application?

  • +2

    People seem to be missing the point entirely. Osko payments are literally perfect on the proviso the money has cleared in the destination account.
    My bank does NOT hold transactions so the sellers I pay always have the money before I leave, or conversely if I’ve received (and typically transferred) the money, the buyer can leave with their goods.

    I don’t carry cash, and I don’t want cash.

  • +1

    Sounds like professional con man/scam artist

    Reminds me of Sawyer from Lost tv series lol!

    People never learn, high value items, cash or nothing! Very simple rule! No buts, no ifs!

  • -2

    The title reads kind of like a clickbait YouTube video.

  • Wait for a business day, weekends these things often don't get processed.

    • Receipt was 22 Aug

  • With Westpac if it’s a scheduled payment it won’t be sent via the OSKO system, is that the same as CBA?

    • +1

      Doesn't matter .. receipt was 22 Aug .. however it was sent it should have arrived now

  • Report to police.. but you prolly wont have much luck. Never do transfers for big price items.

  • +12

    Hey dude.
    I think we got scammed by the same guy…

    He bought some items off me and sounded I got the same screenshot as you did with the same account number.

    Did he happen to be Asian by any chance?

    • +7

      Yes he was! Facebook name was Deon Song i think - oh man what is this guy doing?

      Can you upload the screenshot?

      • +4

        Wow, the guys name isn’t far off from the one I interacted with - it’s Deon Hong.

        Screenshot here: https://ibb.co/cCcS6L8

        Notice the account number and bsb is exactly the same too.

        Products were over $5000 total so this wasn’t something I was gonna let go. I managed to catch his number plate during the interaction and conducted a police report and gave the evidence I had of him.

        Doubt I’d get my money, let alone my stuff but I’ll be glad if this guy gets charged because it’s so disingenuous and disheartening to the next victims.

        However, it’s a strong lesson and next time, I will follow the majority advice in his thread that I only accept cash or only hand over the goods after the money is in the account.

        • +2

          What the hellll!!!! And sorry yes it was Deon Hong for me too!

          Wait - this happened two days ago? Which police station did you report it to?

        • +1

          Sorry and what's the story of how he swindled you? Facebook? And he turned up to your place too?

          • +7

            @poczynek77: Yeah - I reported it to my local police station but I told the police that the interaction happened at around Wentworthville and the transaction was done outside on the streets and it wasn't at my house nor area. The person I spoke to are passing the case to the Wentworthville police office.

            Whether something comes from this isn't guaranteed but if you are able, I suggest you at least make a report of him too so there is at least something they can go off of.

            It was partly over Facebook and text messages too.

        • +9

          Same bloody receipt number too!!

  • What determines if it's 24h or somewhat instant for a new transfer?

    I always specify cash on pickup, but on a couple of occasions people have showed up without cash and just assumed payId was fine. While I've been a bit annoyed internally, I haven't really had much choice but to accept (i mean, if it was a high value and easy to flip item, I would stand my ground).

    It's always hit my account within a couple of minutes though.

    • all the banks have crazy unknown rules for osko transfers .. some even have them written on the websites but often there are unknown traps.

    • Seems random sometimes. Not all banks but those that do sometimes do sometimes don't.

      If it hits your bank instantly then it's all good, they can't just reverse the transaction. Just warn them before they pay that if it gets delayed they can't take the goods, if they're not happy with that then they can go get cash.

  • Did the payment go through, OP?

    • +2

      Sadly no although i hope the guy above gets back to me as it appears he got scammed by the same guy.

      • Oh, no.

        • +1

          Payment also didn’t go through for me - it’s been 48 hours.

          • @pecanpie: It should be two business days if you are not with the same bank.
            This scammer has to be stopped.
            Good luck and be careful.

            • @cupcake: If that's the case - OP should have received the money already but he hasn't. I gather he used a fake app or did a schedule payment and cancelled it after the transaction.

  • +1

    CBA payID is the worse I waited 5 days for one payID from CBA

  • +7

    We're all waiting for an update.

    • +1

      Correction we’re all waiting for a date because we’re desperate

    • +2

      Haha no update! Money not gone through although another poster above looks like same thing happened to him with the same guy. The plot, has, thickened.

  • Where's the OP gone? Has he fled with the monitor?

    • +1

      Buyer sent bikies?

    • Indeed he has - nothing in my account. But i am hoping a poster above can send more details because it looks like he got stung by him too

    • +4

      HAHA NOOOO it is exactly the same guy! Small world…

      • +5

        WTF!!! Any chance you can DM me his rego number? I will go to the cops too and with your report and my report MAYBE somethjing will be done. Which cop station?

        • +2

          Any police station - whichever is closer to you.

    • +5

      I think a hacked Facebook account, once belonging to a Bec (Rebecca) Clark?

      https://www.facebook.com/bec.clark.921

    • why is there a "group?

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