AIBU to think this is a well known scam?

[EvaRoad]

....or have I just been unlucky? (Name changed as too outing)

At the end of July my girlfriend dropped her phone and it broke "beyond repair". She was distraught, did not know what she was going to do and needed a new phone. I suggested she asked her friends or asked her family but ultimately she made it clear that if I didn't get her a phone then she would not be able to contact me anymore. I was in a difficult position, her birthday was coming up, so I eventually relented and purchased her a new phone on a contract. Anyway, I never got to see the phone, as she kept on making excuses not to see me, and then last week she said she had "got back with her ex", didn't want to see me again, and blocked me. Obviously she's still got the phone and I've now got to pay for the rest of the contract.

What really gets me is that this is the second time this has happened to me, my previous girlfriend did something similar, breaking up with me within a few weeks of getting her a new phone a couple of years back.

So is this a well known scam, or have I just been unlucky? Do girls really drop their phones as often as they say?

You’ve been scammed. Twice.

What’s the saying “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me”. Stop being so gullible. And no, it’s not a girl thing, this scam is pulled by boys too. It’s just an arsehole thing.

I drop my phone all the time. Never asked someone else to pay for a new one.

Why did you get one on contract? Can pick up some pretty cheap mobile phones on PAYG. You've been taken for a complete mug. Im surprised you did this a second time without learning the first time.

You need to speak to the company The contract is with. Was she supposed to pay for the contract or was you going to be paying?

I can't use the worlds I want to use to describe her but she is a horrible person. She sadly used you to get the phone and now has lost interest. If it's still with-in 14 days I'd be tempted to cancel her contract. You could even go so far as to tell her parents what she has done and hopefully the vengeance of the parents will make her do what's right.

Is it in your name? Get it blocked. She will still have it but it'll be useless. 😈

What? No. Not a well known scam. Hiw long were you with both these womenre buying them phones?!

If the contract is in your name, call the network and report it as lost. That’ll blacklist the device and send you a new sim.

Text her and ask for your phone back- it's on a contract in your name? If she refuses, you can contact police or do a civil claim in court small claims. She has benefit of it but it belongs to you. Cancel the sim also.

If context is in her name, unless you do signed it, cancel the DD with your bank and give them her address when they contact

Why did you have to buy her a phone? Why didn’t she buy her own? I’ve never heard of that happening to anyone. Everyone I know pays for their own contracts.

@Rocktheboat87

I can't use the worlds I want to use to describe her but she is a horrible person. She sadly used you to get the phone and now has lost interest. If it's still with-in 14 days I'd be tempted to cancel her contract. You could even go so far as to tell her parents what she has done and hopefully the vengeance of the parents will make her do what's right.

Her parents? Wtf?! If she is a child then op shouldn't be buying her a phone. That's bloody grooming. Ffs.

It did happen to me last year but i didnt manipulate my bf to buy me a new phone.

@MattHancocksSexTape

If the contract is in your name, call the network and report it as lost. That’ll blacklist the device and send you a new sim.

Lost not stolen?

If the contract's in your name, can't you contact the company and ask them to block the number? Or go round and ask her to give it back (no I don't think she will either but you could try).

You’ve been a mug. As above, get it blocked and stop her using it immediately. And don’t be so foolish again.

Also stop buying gf's phones. You can get a cheap payg for £10!!

Set a zero charge for additional charges on your contract to age does wrack yo extras , and ask for paper itemised copies of the bill if is in your name so that you can evidence she is using it

Yes I frequently drop and smash my phone

Never, NEVER would I ask or even accept someone buy me a replacement. I don’t know if any genuine people who would. Maybe lend me an old phone until I could replace it but never buy

I’m sorry you’ve been scammed. Going forward, don’t take things like this. People can be horrible.

I know someone who got screwed over by a boy for a phone and got blocked (not even sure it was a scam)

How the hell does this happen to you twice?! I struggle to sympathise with you being this gullible unfortunately.

Without meaning to be cheeky, was this a real life girlfriend or an online one?

There is lots of online "catfish" relationships where the catfish will ask for goods / money / phones etc then ghost the other person

I don't think it's a well known scam and I'm not sute scam is even the right word. You've been taken advantage of twice, do the two girls know each other?

Whatever you do don't repeat your mistake

Unfortunately it's a contract in my name. Although I had known her for a few years, it was a reasonably new relationship and I wanted to demonstrate that I was serious about the relationship. She put her old SIM in the phone. It just frustrates me that I have 11 months of payments still to make.

Report it as stolen don't buy people phones.
Your welcome

@EvaRoad

Unfortunately it's a contract in my name. Although I had known her for a few years, it was a reasonably new relationship and I wanted to demonstrate that I was serious about the relationship. She put her old SIM in the phone. It just frustrates me that I have 11 months of payments still to make.

Then you can write her a letter before action to her home address as a letter before action asking for immediate return of your phone which is in your name on contract, as contact for the phone is in your name. Then if she refuses you take it to court with the contact for the phone in your hand,

You bought a phone which you agreed she could borrow. You want it back now to resell or for her to pay contact on the phone if she plans to keep it. She obviously planned to defraud you by keeping the phone but dumping you

Sorry small screen and edit problem. Contract not contact and alert for repetitions

How long were you boyfriend and girlfriend before you bought her a phone? How long were you boyfriend and girlfriend with the last one?

Yes, it's shitty behaviour & no-one should be treated in that way.
I wonder though where she got the idea that you will buy things for her - is it possible that you try to buy affection?

Previous relationship was several years and it was in fact her second phone of the relationship. Most recent relationship had only been a couple of months. But the question was very much phrased along the lines that I had to show I was serious.