Dd scammed Facebook market place

[TabithaTittlemouse]

Dd (adult) purchased a phone on Facebook marketplace and stupidly paid by bank transfer. She received an empty envelope no item.

There’s not much she can do is there?

Seller is saying item was in the envelope and it was sent signed for. The postman put it in the postbox and signed covid 19.

She’s contacting her banks fraud team and has reported to Facebook. What else should she do? Obviously I doubt she will see the money again.

Mainly I imagine it will be a valuable lesson.

Most definitely!
To add to it it was for her younger brother. Part of me feels they should learn from it but part of me wants to give him the money

Did the seller send a photo of proof of postage?

If she has that or can ask for it (maybe under the guise of taking it up with Royal Mail) it should state a weight for the package which will clearly show if it was empty or had something in it when posted.

At least is a good starting point

Yes. It might be on the envelope too but would it be Facebook?

I doubt bank or FB will do anything. RM might. Depends on what service was used?

I think so, I don't use Facebook marketplace but I think they have a buyer protection place which refunds the buyer of for example the item is not received.

Not the same I realised but I've had refunds from Vinted when items haven't turned up. I also had an empty envelope arrive although in that case it was assumed to have fallen out during transit!

Thank you.

I’ll get her to go to the post office tomorrow.

@Hereforthedramaz vinted are great when looking into issues.

Agreed Vinted are really good at that stuff, sorry to hear Facebook are likely not as good.

I expect you've already looked but this is facebook's guidance

m.facebook.com/help/228307904608701

@TabithaTittlemouse

Thank you.

I’ll get her to go to the post office tomorrow.

@Hereforthedramaz vinted are great when looking into issues.

The Post Office isn't Royal Mail. Two separate companies. The post Office won't help because it's nothing to do with them. Contact Royal Mail directly on their website, I'm Not sure what they will do other than 'investigate' then close the case. I doubt they would refund. I feel it's more the seller who has scammed her though rather than Royal Mail has stolen it. I'm sure there is a way to contact Facebook market place about scams.

Thank you! I’ll have a look and pass it on

Also challenge the Post Office.

The postman isn’t supposed to sign for it. That’s not how it works. It’s more likely that the postman stole it.

Does the item not get weighed when sent this way? I would track down the weight as there should be a significant difference between an empty envelope and a phone.

If the weight was adequate when posted then clearly Royal Mail have stolen the item, in which case you can complain to them.

If it was light to begin with then take the seller to small claims court.

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

Also challenge the Post Office.

The postman isn’t supposed to sign for it. That’s not how it works. It’s more likely that the postman stole it.

Agreed!

This information might be helpful although not all banks are part of the scheme:

www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk/crm-code/

Ask the seller for a copy of the postage receipt. This should show a parcel weight on it. This may give an indication of what was actually in it when posted.

Do not tell seller why you really was a copy of postage receipt

The proof of postage is ripped in half and shows only the bottom half (no weight)

Thanks @ClariceQuiff (I love your name btw) I’ll have a look.

You know this now but in case it might help someone else in the future, never buy a phone off Facebook marketplace without meeting the seller (in a public place) and seeing it working. There are genuine sellers of course but best to assune it's a scam until prove otherwise.

It is a very harsh lesson to learn. If you pay by bank transfer you have no comeback whatsoever. They could have even avoided sending an empty envelope and there would be nothing she could do. You could report it to the police or threaten small claims if you have enough identifiable information about the seller, but it is likely they, and the bank, will say she shouldn't have been so foolish. Certainly when I set up a new bank transfer I get all sorts of warnings about scams before I ok the payment.

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

Also challenge the Post Office.

The postman isn’t supposed to sign for it. That’s not how it works. It’s more likely that the postman stole it.

Have you had a package since covid? They dont ask for signatures, I cant remember the last time I signed for something

How would the postman know what was inside and how would he get te phone out without it being obvious that the parcel had been opened? I realy don't think that's what happened

I am really quite surprised because I thought she was quite tech savvy but obviously not. DH is really cross at them both (whereas I’m far too soft and want to give ds the money but realise that he won’t learn anything).

Agree @AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair it’s definitely not been tampered with and our postman is lovely so wouldn’t want him to get in trouble

I'd report to Action Fraud assuming you have the url of the Facebook account t. I doubt this is the first time they have done it.

Is the weight on the printed postage label? I'm sure when I've received parcels there is a weight marked there along with the cost of the postage.

Through bank transfer and Facebook she has little hope.

If she can get the weight of the package, or others have said this person scammed them too then the police may be worth a go. Its a tough lesson to learn though. Your poor dd