I’ve been scammed - help me nail the bastard.

[Thebigblueballoon]

Hello AIBU fans. Shamelessly posting here for traffic.

I work in an interior designs field, and over the part two months ago I have ordered some stock from a person who I previously had a good business relationship with.

He hasn’t delivered the goods. Apparently because he’s had a “family crisis”. It’s been eight weeks. Eight weeks of excuses I have accepted, even when he’s cancelled a delivery on the very same day.

It turns out he’s a massive fraud, and has scammed dozens of people in our industry out of money. There’s somebody in Australia waiting on 15k. Literally thousands of pounds in some cases. Why this hasn’t been documented more online is beyond me, but there you go… now is the time.

I’m taking him to small claims court as soon as possible, I just need to get his address and details, and as much info as possible on this scumbag.
What’s the best way to do this? And how can I flag this arsehole up to everybody in the industry I work in?

Where was he selling his stuff? Own website or ebay/similar?

No, he sells freelance. It’s antique furniture and other related goods. It’s really common within this industry.

He basically was a reputable seller for several years, but seems to have gone rogue and is now trying to scam any buyer he can. Hundreds have fallen for it due to his prior reputation. I fell for it and am now out of pocket. I have no accurate phone number or address, so I’m on a mission.

Companies House will have details if he is running as a limited business

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/

He was. Not any more. He’s deleted all of his contact details and is now running a massive scam. Myself and others are now just catching up on it.

I hope someone can come give better advice. But to warn people...send out a WhatsApp message and in the message tell people to forward it everywhere. We had a scammer once and somebody knew him (after we sent WhatsApp messages everywhere)...he took us to him, threatened him and we got our money back...

So how did you get to view the goods? Did he have premises?

Try raising it as a story on The Martin Lewis Show, Money Box or You and Yours.

He used to have a premises but now operates online only. This has allowed him to scan folk, basically. He was one a reputable seller known within my industry.

Okay - so if he's selling online is it through his own website or through a selling site?

I'm trying to get at whether anyone checked out credentials [about us, contact details etc] before buying.

He sells the majority via Instagram and via word-of-mouth. It’s a weird one because he used to be a big, reliable seller… but has basically decided to start scamming his long term customer base! We work in an industry of trust, and this guy has basically decided to stick his finger up to previous customers and just pocket their money. It’s really bizarre.

I don't use instagram. Can people report such scams to them?

Gobsmacked that people would buy antiques through such a medium. Caveat emptor applicable here it seems.

How did you pay? Can you do a chargeback?

Are you sure his Instagram account hasn't been hacked and taken over by someone else?

I would report to the police as this is fraud.

It’s a standard way of dealing with furniture and interiors in this industry. Especially after you ‘know’ the seller. I appreciate it’s hard to explain and understand.

Can you name and shame OP? I buy a lot of antiques off instagram so it's very worrying!

See if he has any business details on companies house

I’ll be at the bank first thing tomorrow.

Sadly not. After doing hours of research this past day it has become apparent that this one decent seller has turned into some batshit con artist.

I'd be taking legal advice rather than stirring up a mob on social media. Lawyers will be able to help you more than Mumsnet can.

No mob has been stirred. It’s been private chats between me and several people today. No intention to start publicly shaming yet, but one thing we’re agreed on is that we don’t have an accurate number or address for this scammer.

How did you pay for the items?

You can report his profile on IG and get a load more people to do so as well. Can you not report him to trading standards, and tax people (assume he isn't paying tax on the fraud money) or something of a similar nature as well as making a report with the police?

Does this count as theft, as he took the money but hasn't delivered the goods?

With all respect, this is a business to business transaction.

People like Martin Lewis and Money Box are interested in consumer issues, not business disputes, which is what this would be.

You can’t delete details from companies house. Something isn’t adding up here.

If he has his own website then check the domain name registration - may have included some relevant details.