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Original poster

Is this a scam?

22 replies

LillethCrane · 07/10/2021 13:41

My dm is selling some ornaments on FB marketplace. A lady has asked to buy two items at a cost of £70 (above the asking price). They want to send the cash to my mum via Hermes, then my mum should check the amount, before putting the items in a pre-addressed envelope, and Hermes will take them away… This is due to happen tomorrow morning.

I don’t know what the scam is, or how the buyer would benefit, but something doesn’t feel right.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
woodhill · 07/10/2021 13:42

Just don't do it OP

Scam

dementedpixie · 07/10/2021 13:44

Don't do it.
They can come and get it themselves

maofteens · 07/10/2021 13:48

I can't see how they would benefit but it makes no sense whatsoever what they are proposing- it may lead to another request of 'i'll buy ten ornaments ...' and that's where the scam starts

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MrMeSeeks · 07/10/2021 13:51

Scam.
I wouldn't trust it.
They’ll claim hermes never came with the money/it’s counterfeit/hermes Didnt deliver items ( which not unusual).
Don’t do it.

bubbletrumps · 07/10/2021 13:53

They'll probably claim that the items never turned up, so you'll have to refund them the money. If it doesn't feel right then don't do it.

MydogWillow · 07/10/2021 13:55

Feels wrong. Don't touch it!

Notfastjustfurious · 07/10/2021 13:56

It's a scam, the money looks like its in your account then disappears along with your items. Numbers are blocked and you never see either again. Google it, it's a pretty common scam across the whole country.

bloodywhitecat · 07/10/2021 13:58

Hermes state on their website that you cannot send cash via Hermes.

hardyloveit · 07/10/2021 13:58

Op do not let your mum do this. This is a well known scam!

bloodywhitecat · 07/10/2021 13:59

Sorry, that you are not covered for sending cash via them so I am guessing that is something to do with how the scam works.

Twizbe · 07/10/2021 14:01

It's a scam.

WellThatsATurnipForTheBooks · 07/10/2021 14:01

Sounds fishy.

To be honest if you put something on FB marketplace I wouldn't sell to anyone who doesn't turn up in person themselves to hand over the cash and collect the items.

DP recently advertised a bike on there and had all sorts of odd replies eg. could he send it to Austria if they sent a courier/could he send it to Belgium if the buyer covered the cost of shipping (shipping would have been over £100 and is Belgium not notoriously full of bikes anyway?!)

CoodleMoodle · 07/10/2021 14:13

Scam!

I was selling something on FB a few weeks ago and had a very similar offer. It sounded incredibly off so I copied and pasted the message and it came up with these threads:

www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/is-this-a-scam.723732/

money.stackexchange.com/questions/97535/someone-wants-to-send-me-cash-by-dhl-hows-this-scam-supposed-to-work

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 07/10/2021 14:31

I would assume a fake Hermes driver and counterfeit notes. Seems like a lot of trouble for less than £70 worth of goods, so possibly there will be two £50s in the envelope and there will be a message asking for £30 change too.

Original poster
LillethCrane · 07/10/2021 16:07

Thanks for all the advice, I shall try and convince my mum.

OP posts:
CovidinPrimary · 07/10/2021 16:13

Sounds like a way to clean up some fake money.

The send your DM fake £70 cash for an item
Resells Item, doesn’t matter if it’s lower price as the £70 wasn’t really worth £70

Polkadots2021 · 07/10/2021 17:31

Don't do it, also of you have any ideas that the items could be worth more, do a bit of internet digging to check.

hardyloveit · 07/10/2021 19:19

If you can't convince her. Get her to phone non emergency police or action fraud and they WILL tell her it's a scam

AFuturisticalSound · 07/10/2021 19:26

Every single time someone offers more than the price on the advert and it involves some convoluted scheme with couriers it's a scam

100%, you don't need to ask anyone

Your choice, block them or if you have time on your hands engage them with an even more ridiculous story of your own.

Original poster
LillethCrane · 07/10/2021 21:09

There was an update: Later she received a message telling her to look at her emails and follow Hermes’ instructions, apparently she would be sent a money order for the amount of the item plus £100 to cover insurance which she had to pay upfront by setting up an account in a supermarket or garage and pay in £100 and get a code to send to Hermes and then she would get the money order…

Thankfully she had remembered what I’d said, and told them she’d only accept PayPal. When they messaged again, she pressed the ‘report’ button on Messanger and blocked them.

I knew it was dodgy, so pleased she believed me. Thanks for the advice!

OP posts:
huuskymam · 07/10/2021 21:18

Yep it's a scam, been going around years.

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