DS ripped off

[halfthesun]

Hello, would love some advice but also a word of warning. DS has just sold PS5 for £580, however the twenty pound notes were counterfeit! We are both so upset and feel so stupid. DS doesn’t want to report to the police. I think we should. The guy has a fake Facebook / this on reflection. So cross and upset on DS behalf plus this dodgy guy now knows where we live. If it helps we live in Hove, Sussex - please be. Ore carful than us. Any advice?

He/You should report to police for sure and scammers are despicable.
BUT
I'm struggling for 100% sympathy when he bought something he didn't want that is/was in relatively short supply with the deliberate aim of profiteering presumably out of some desperate parent at Christmas.
It's like ticket touting which i also loathe.
Hopefully lesson learnt - we all make mistakes at times.

Oh my goodness op. Your poor son. How do you know they are fake?

We sold an item recently for 280 and we're paid in £20's. It was such a long time since I dealt in cash and they are new notes so I did comment on their validity. The chap obviously told.me they were straight out the bank machine...and the second he left I googled the notes to check the security features...but it is a worry....they haven't been banked yet - I know what I'm doing in a bit.....)

@Indiaplain

I agree.. surely most people would spend it in big shops, eg supermarkets. It may be technically a crime but it doesnt seem likely you would be caught. Again not advising this, just pointing out it is probably what most people would do, especially as the Police probably wont be able to help.

Around here, every time someone is caught using fake notes, the businesses that have been duped all take to social media with descriptions and even CCTV footage. You'd also be reported to the local police who would share the information and footage online.

I'm really sorry this happened to you both op. I know how awful I would feel and my son who is a similar age. Please report it, that might start to make him feel better. And so might a successful balance transfer to another 0% credit card

Is he telling you the truth about his debt? I know he's been scammed which is bad enough, but is his silence down to something more he hasn't shared with you?

@Kleptronic

Is there some virtuous, acceptable position he can occupy, then having been being robbed? Because a few here seems to be implying he deserved it somehow, for making a mistake, or trying to make money? Capitalism's fine when you're trying to turn a profit on a house, but not on a PS5? Shame on you. Robbed is robbed. As long as he didn't steal it in the first place, who's business is it?

And at least no one needs a PS5. It's a huge, unnecessary luxury. Much unlike a house!

Around here, every time someone is caught using fake notes, the businesses that have been duped all take to social media with descriptions and even CCTV footage. You'd also be reported to the local
police who would share the information and footage online.

What if someone hasn't realised it is a fake note?

@Kleptronic. I'm not seeing any posts that say he "deserved to be robbed". Overwhelmingly people are feeling very sorry for the lad, but the OP asked for any advice. One piece of advice is not to get into debt for something that you don't need, and "hope" you can make money on by overcharging other people, if it is money you can't afford to lose. People should only gamble with money they can afford to lose. Another piece of advice is to be wary of people happy to pay cash for something that someone is selling 2nd hand, when you can get it from a legitimate source for the same amount (or some people have quoted less). Logically, why would anyone do that?
I still feel angry that people do this.
I still feel sorry for the OP's ds.
I still think they should have gone to the police as soon as they realised,

but there is an element of accepting he is never likely to see that money again, so thinking what could he do differently in the future to make sure it never happens to him again.

@Seema002 No, that isn't what "most people" would do at all. I agree with @Simonjt that that is a reflection on you, and, if you say everyone you know, then the people you are mixing with.

@justthecat

Def report it involves counterfeit money I’m sure police be interested. And very unlikely to be one off

I imagine the son doesn't want to report it as it will mean he won't be able to use the counterfeit notes.

@Franklin12

Sorry I am lost here. Your son brought a PS for nearly £600 and then tried to sell it almost immediately for the same price (but only has a low wage).

Sorry. Why would he plan to this?

*bought. Brought means to bring something in past tense. When you buy something it is 'bought' not brought