Absolutely livid with myself for the one time I decided to go against my instincts and my utter stupidity. I guess if something is too good to be true then something ain't right. Writing this hoping it provides a catharsis and hopefully none of you end up doing something as stupid as this. Surprisingly my wife has been quite understanding (maybe b'cos it's her birthday today though I did have to name 4 things I learned from this experience) Still feel like an idiot.
Been thinking about replacing my forks on the hardtail as I wanted a slightly longer steerer so I can switch the fork between this current frame and new privateer and also wanted a pair of Lyriks. Anyway saw a 2019 Fox Factory 36's advertised on FB for 400£... yes exactly too good to be true right. Pinged the seller on the 2nd afternoon and agreed 400 posted. Said I'd pay via paypal goods and services. He then said he doesn't accept G&S as the money gets held up for 21 days (I've heard of this and walked away once from someone who had said something similar) I did briefly look this up and it seemed true. Anyhow, greed seemed to cloud my judgement. I said I'd pay F&F just before he posted and he showed me the proof of postage said he wouldn't post without payment which was fair enough but I should have walked at this point. At around 4ish that afternoon he said he was on his way to the PO, in a moment of madness I paid him. It then went quiet. I was having doubts and that evening it didn't help thatone part of me kept saying I've %$^9 up and the other part of me kept saying give it time. Later that night he/she messaged via FB messenger to apologise saying that the PO was closed and they would send it first thing in the morning. I thought ok. You can guess after that it went dead quiet, pinged again yesterday no reply, message not read. Pinged again this morning. Messaged was picked up in the afternoon and immediately he/she removed themselves from the chat, FB profile disappeared.. Called the number I had managed to get from the FB ad and the allegedly real Frankie Neil picked up saying his FB account has been hacked and he's been getting a few phone calls. He gave me his real email. The fraudulent email is frankieneil1993@gmail.com... the surname did not match the FB profile as the FB profile listed as Frankie Niels (this seemed slightly off to me). Listing was listed as for sale in Workington. Said actual FN is in Bath. Anyway have since lodged a report with paypal and mastercard and the online fraud police. But I'm not expecting a +ve outcome.
Still feel like a dolt. As my wife pointed out not the end of the world but it still sucks 8@lls. Anyway, always always always pay via G&S, if it sounds too good to be true thing twice, heck think 10 times and run it by someone else I guess, don't get carried away in the moment and don't get carried away with bigger and better! Trust your gut.
Ah you daft sod, we all know better than that. But good that you post it up for others to read
I’ve been tempted in past but I only ever pay goods/services unless I know the person.
You won’t do it again !
Sorry to hear that OP. I got burned a few years back. Sleep deprived with a poorly Funk Jr when he was little. Ended up losing £350 in a similar fashion. Like you I knew it was wrong, but fuzzy brain and wanting to think the best of someone got the better of me. Felt like a proper dickhead for falling for it.
Thanks @funkmasterp well live and learn I guess.
Can’t imagine how it feels like for people who lose bigger stakes and when it affects livelihoods
It happens, just put it down to further learning, and hopefully karma will even itself out in the long run, no point beating yourself up or wondering about it any more.
I tend to always pay G&S and I cover the fees, I wouldn't tell the seller as they would get the same amount either way.
Ouch.
I do use Gift payment on here if the member been around for a while and the amount is smallish but that's about it. Oh, PB very occasionally too.
It's easy to think that other people have the same morals as yourself out there in the world but many simply don't. I hate being reminded of this.
Your post is a good reminder to us all to be careful as Upgrade Red Mist can get the better of us sometimes.
It hurts when you get stung, especially when you normally know better. I nearly got done last year when looking for a spare mech that nowhere has in stock in a similar manner. Same story of PayPal holding money when you pay via G&S, was just about to do it via F&F as it was only for £35 but at the very last second I used G&S and paid the fees my end so the seller saw the right amount in their account. Said they'd posted it but never gave a tracking number and it never turned up. After 3 weeks and a few failed messages I raised a case with PayPal and eventually got my money back followed by a load of abusive messages from the seller!
With a shortage of parts out there it's a ripe market for the scammers. You're not the first to succumb and won't be the last, it may be hard to suck it up but realistically all you can do is report it and move on. Hopefully the credit card co may come up trumps but as they have done their bit by paying PayPal you might have to fight it. Good luck.
Dispute the payment with your credit card company. If it’s Amex you’ll probably get your money back and it’s worth a shot with any of the others.
What did you say exactly? “Sorry, I attempted to defraud you & it’s all gone wrong” 😂Anyway have since lodged a report with paypal
Hopefully lesson learnt!
I use an online service to calculate how much I need to pay the person so it looks like I’ve paid by F&F or they aren’t out of pocket (if they have asked me to pay fees). Never had a problem yet but there’s always the backup there.
After 3 weeks and a few failed messages I raised a case with PayPal and eventually got my money back followed by a load of abusive messages from the seller!
Love that story!
@dc1988 and @b230ftw that is a good strategy actually.
Dispute the payment with your credit card company. If it’s Amex you’ll probably get your money back and it’s worth a shot with any of the others.
MC/Virgin said they'd freeze it once it hit my statement but I know it's a slim chance of seeing any of it back.. given that I've gone and used F&F but we'll see. Ain't going to hold my breath
Whilst it didn't work out this time it is nice to trust people sometimes. Assuming everyone is out to rip you off is a bit negative. I've been trusted and have trusted others and its been ok (taking some precautions). Only had one incident, where a seller tried to bump up the price after I'd paid, and even that I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that it was a misunderstanding.
Similar(ish) story. An add came up on Facebook from Scarpa (no, not Scarper...) who are a mountaineering boots manufacturer. The prices were outstanding and I bought a pair and paid via CC.
I had a nasty feeling so after the transaction did what I should have done before; checked them out. The URL was similar to the real Scarpa but different and the net had loads of 'scam Scarpa site - beware!' stuff. Bolleux.
I cancelled the card within minutes of the transaction, ordered a new one and raised a fraud case.
The bank have refunded the money to the original card and issued a new one. The scammers put through 2 transactions for double the original sum and had them reversed. They also sent me a pair of fake Raybans presumably to have something for me to track postage wise...
So, moral: Check, check and double check. I've worked in IT Sec/ecommerce for years, and know better but apparently am still a greedy shit that can't resist a bargain 😉
Me too
Glad im not the only one
Hungover one bleary morning opened email from EE saying payment for your broadband hasnt gone though
Please confirm payment details with this hamdy form
I had just changed broadband suppliers, and payment was due that week
Filled out form but needed to find a detail that i couldn't remember so didn't click send
Had shower, tea, toast then recalled i hsd signed up for Plusnet, not fricking EE. Panic call to bank to cancel card, freeze account for 24hrs etc, then opened window with form to see it still on there not sent, not completed.
Doh. Felt very silly.
Hi Tuska, Im fairly local to workington. the Forks are currently still advertised on FB....give me a sec and Ill message the seller. Are they the orange 36 Fit 27.5/29, 160mm??
Just offered to pick them up. If I get an address Ill pass it on
In conversation about pick up now....
Mate, I have a postcode. I have offered cash pick up on Sat, so asked for an address. i have a post code and I will PM you with the info.
If you report the fraud to Cumbria they may be able to help. I'm happy to help in any way I can
that is something @monkeysfeet!! Huge thanks.
I've reported the initial fraud to action fraud online, will get in touch with Fraud Cumbria (if you manage to get the address)
I have some contacts in Cumbria police too, so I may be able to give you a local police contact.
Though just wondering if this person has hacked into someone's else FB account and trying the same ruse again. My sleuthing skills are not picking the FS up on FB
I have some contacts in Cumbria police too, so I may be able to give you a local police contact.
That is so generous and kind, thanks very much
They have asked for a deposit to hold them.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm Leave it with me.....
hmmm interesting.. am out of ideas tbh.
They have asked for a deposit to hold them…..hmmmmmmmmmmmmm Leave it with me…..
"If you aren't in I could pop the cash through your letterbox and you could drop them round at mine next week..."
Worth a try to see if you can get an address. Or ask for a phone number to check a couple of details that might be traceable
Or
"My PayPal payment wont go through can you give a ring on this number"
.
Call it back from a different number a few days later "It's Hermes. I've got a delivery for you but I can't find your house, where exactly are you?"
Just offered to drop a deposit off in person this weekend...Anyone got any bombers lying around???
Get PayPal address
Send £3.60 instead of £360
Enclose a note with the payment " all done, any problems give me a ring and i will sort it, so happy, thanks very much for this, cant wait to ride them, they are exactly what i have been looking for"
He will ring then you habe a mobile numbrr, then try the DPD courier route
Got this flat screen tv for you but half the address is missing, what road are you on?
I just searched on FB marketplace for Fox Factory 36. Says Frankie Neil is selling them. Has someone copied his profile and then done a runner and in fact Frankie Neil is genuinely selling some forks for £400???
EDIT - looked at FB profile now. Nowt in it. I think the OP spoke to the scammer when he said he was able to contact the real FN who claimed to have had his account hacked.
Just say no deposit, if you sell them in the meantime, nevermind.
Odds on he doesn't sell them in the meantime.
Are we getting a baying mob together? I'll have to go and dig out my pitchfork.
Seriously though, best of luck OP.
EDIT – looked at FB profile now. Nowt in it. I think the OP spoke to the scammer when he said he was able to contact the real FN who claimed to have had his account hacked.
Unless I've missunderstood the story, this seems likely. FN's profile picture is stolen, reverse image search finds it on linkedin for a different name:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/efinity-labs-ltd/people/
So the account is likely fake. If the person who answered the phone is called FN it seems like they've slipped up big time by revealing their number. Good luck OP.
The scammer shouldn't mess with STW it seems.
Good luck with this op, hope the sod gets his collar felt.
So, small update. Despite offering cash and to meet up immediately, the seller refused to speak to me or pass on any details. Reported to FB and posted on a few buy/ sell groups to, just to warn folk.
Just wanted to say a monumental thanks to @monkeysfeet for persisting with this.
I have contacted the real FN (if it really is him and not the scammer himself as at this stage it's hard to bloody tell!!!though he did give me an iCloud email which is a different email from what the summer used not that tells me anything) and told him that the impostor/fraudster is still using his identity to scam people.
My recent conversation with Paypal got me nowhere - in short they aren't really interested in taking the complaint seriously - I tried explaining to them that they need to block that email id so that other people don't get scammed but they don't seem to care.
FB's reporting leaves much to be desired cos all you can do is tick boxes but not email or send in an actual complaint or warning.
I've got a case open with Action Fraud.
and finally STW never fails to amaze so thanks everyone for your kind words and advice.
I’ve reported the initial fraud to action fraud online,
Don't hold your breath, they are useless. I spent over an hour giving my initial report but when I rang back a week or two later they had no record of my evidence. The Theft was logged but the person had not saved my report. I provided details of who was selling my nicked bike, on FB and ebay, names of people linked to various addresses involved + loads of other info. They did nothing and by the second call the bike was long gone.
Different scam but using PP gift as well. I didn't ask for that method and didn't realise they had but that didn't prevent PP taking the money back which put my account in arrears, then was threatened with a action if I didn't pay up.
First and last time I sold something of value on FB, cost me over £800.
I got stung last year, by a woman I’ve known for 5 years, she used to work in a coffee shop i frequented.
We were friends on fb, used to send random shit to each other, she never gave me the slightest cause for concern.
Then, last year, she asked if she could borrow £60 ‘until tomorrow’
You can guess the rest I’m sure.
A real friend helpfully pointed out “It’s only cost you £60 to prove she can’t be trusted”
I’m annoyed i was taken in by her tbh.
It won’t happen again.
Funnily enough just Googled the name of someone I'd been chatting to on FB marketplace yesterday and boom straight to STW
He gave me his email and PayPal contact as
Frankieneil85@gmail.com
Pushy comms, wanted deposit to hold pending collection, PayPal gift only, left chat when I said I'd only deal protected PayPal
Hope the above email helps
Police?
Then, last year, she asked if she could borrow £60 ‘until tomorrow’
Was that her tho? Wife had this from her friend via messanger turns out her account had been compromised.
@bruneep
It was definitely her.
She has done the same thing to a few other people i know too. One of the other guys in the shop she worked in said she constantly asked everyone for money
