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Original poster

Need to return some money - how?

43 replies

FlyingHighandDry · 05/02/2023 08:31

DH and I had tickets for a music event on Friday evening.
DH became unwell on Wednesday and we were no longer able to attend.
I asked friends if anyone was interested.
Friend said her friend was interested.
Contacted friend and agreed on a price. All good.

Asked for bank transfer and then things started to go wrong!
The buyer wanted the tickets transferring before payment. I said no.

I said I wanted payment by 6pm otherwise I would list on marketplace as I didn’t want to be in a position where we left it too long and I couldn’t sell them.

No payment so at 6:15 I contacted buyer to say tickets were no longer available to her.
Listed on marketplace and sold them to someone within an hour! £ transferred immediately and tickets transferred.

In the meantime, original buyer told me she’d get the money to me soon.

Again I said I was no longer selling them to her.

At 9pm, original buyer transfers the money!

Contacted her immediately to say the tickets had been sold as I had told her twice and asked for her details to send the money back.
She has gone mad and is refusing to send me her bank details as I am a con-artist.
I said I would send the money to mutual friend instead and she said no. Believes our friend is in on the ‘scam’ too!

She has told me to keep the money! £180! Which seems an insane response?
I keep messaging asking how to repay but she has told me not to contact her again.

This is making me very worried as I sense more is to come!

WWYD?

OP posts:
HikingforScenery · 05/02/2023 08:33

can you contact your bank to reverse the payment?

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 05/02/2023 08:33

Could you send her a cheque? Perhaps via mutual friend? Make sure you have screen shots of messages for a paper trail

KangarooKenny · 05/02/2023 08:33

Screen shot all communication with her

KangarooKenny · 05/02/2023 08:34

Don’t pay her cash, you need proof if/when you repay it

Thingamebobwotsit · 05/02/2023 08:36

Make sure you take screenshots of all the messages. Speak to your bank to see if they can return the money and say it was sent in error. If they can, keep a note of any statements. If they can't, they should be able to advise.

All else fails, write a cheque for the amount to the original owner, date stamp and photograph with a date stamp. Send the picture and ask her where she would like it posting to.

Save any subsequent messages.

SnoozyVanWinkle · 05/02/2023 08:46

This is crazy!

I think it's good advice to screenshot everything and go down the cheque route if the payment can't be reversed and she won't let you do a bank transfer.

Hopefully the bank will,be able to reverse it though. I had a payment returned to me just before Christmas as I'd bought something online and they didn't send it and stopped communicating with me. HSBC said it would take up to three months but it actually was less than a fortnight.

LakeTiticaca · 05/02/2023 08:48

What a weird scenario. Why on earth would she think you are scamming her?

FatGirlSwim · 05/02/2023 08:49

Can you see if she has a PayPal account and send it that way?

InspectorPaws · 05/02/2023 08:52

It’s a scam. She wants you to contact your bank and reverse the payment. Then she separately goes to her bank and shows them the evidence and asks her bank to reverse the payment. Both banks reverse the payment and age gets twice as much money.

Metabigot · 05/02/2023 08:54

Sounds scammy and weird

What does mutual friend think

WindscreenWipe · 05/02/2023 08:55

She’s scamming you and wants it charged back twice so you end up out of pocket. Do nothing. Tell her to get her bank to refund it back. Even if she gives you her details, don’t send it back - the bank would then double refund her. Do not send her anything via any method - cheque, PayPal, cash. No no no.

Original poster
FlyingHighandDry · 05/02/2023 08:55

I have it all saved.

I can't send a cheque.
She refuses to send me her address (or any address!) as I am a con-artist 🤷‍♀️
Won't let me give it to mutual friend to pass on as they are no longer friends...

I'll try the bank this morning - good shout.

I can't contact her anymore.
Her last message was quite threatening saying I had set out to con her from the start and ended with 'Do not contact me again'

She seems that crazy that if I do respond further it makes me look like the bad guy for not respecting her wishes if that makes sense?

It is so strange!

OP posts:
Original poster
FlyingHighandDry · 05/02/2023 08:57

Poor mutual friend is mortified.
She has been blocked by her now
(Buyer has blocked friend)

OP posts:
GoodChat · 05/02/2023 08:57

If your friend has her email address send it via PayPal

LaurieFairyCake · 05/02/2023 08:59

Don't send her money!

She could easily reverse the payment she made AFTER you've paid it

Wait til she contacts you or wait 10 days before doing anything

Testina · 05/02/2023 08:59

Don’t refund her. Definitely something dodgy. Screenshot everything and tell her she needs to request that her bank reverses the transaction. Then do nothing more.

BumpySkull · 05/02/2023 09:00

Do not send her any money and especially not via PayPal! If you send her any money then recognise she’ll get refunded again and you’ll be giving her the money twice!

Bronzeisthecolour · 05/02/2023 09:01

Scam!

MRex · 05/02/2023 09:01

She is a fraudster looking for a double refund. Inform your bank of all the details and take no further action.

LikeTearsInRain · 05/02/2023 09:03

Sounds like some kind of mental health episode. Keep the money aside for when she may realise she needs it.

PinkPantherPaws · 05/02/2023 09:06

Please op, ignore those saying to send a cheque or by PayPal! Awful advice.

I don't think it's a scam. On the surface of it, I reckon it's more likely she's a drama llama looking for a reason to post a long, sad 'scam warming' post all over Facebook etc with your details on.

Send her one final message saying you obviously can't return her money without her permission but you'll return it anytime if she just sends you her details. Then watch her social media and wait.

Mindymomo · 05/02/2023 09:06

Crikey being on Mumsnet you learn something new everyday. Never knew this type of scam existed, but presume this person has done it before and gotten back twice the amount. OP you don’t appear to have done anything wrong, you gave adequate time for purchase and reminders which you didn’t need to do.

Fullrecoveryispossible · 05/02/2023 09:09

This happened to me. It’s dirty money, you don’t want this attached to your account! Contact bank asap

MRex · 05/02/2023 09:09

If you want to cover yourself, then contact police as well as your bank on 101. Give the details and explain you are concerned about returning the money in case it is a double refund scam. If she has done it before then they may be interested to follow up.

TheRookie · 05/02/2023 09:13

Fullrecoveryispossible · 05/02/2023 09:09

This happened to me. It’s dirty money, you don’t want this attached to your account! Contact bank asap

How is it dirty money??? 😂😂