ARRESTED- 2 iPhone X Sold, Fake Westpac Bank Receipt, No Payment Received, Reported to Police and What's Next?

Lccvonlineoz on 10/01/2018 - 23:48
Last edited 20/01/2018 - 21:57 by 1 other user

5pm 18/01/2018. My boy has been arrested and I am now with POLICE. I will upload what I have done to see him again very soon, all about HUNTING and FISHING

Taking Money back is not guaranteed as per officer however i am relieved.

An iPhone X Award - Please contact me.

This is a fraud which just happened to me. It has already happened and I will make it very short compared to 3 pages in my Police Report.

Please comment if you have a solution for me.

It was a very last day of 2017, I had two brand new iPhone X for sale on Facebook. A guy approached me via facebook messenger not too long after, I ended up with a deal of $3370 for 2 phones and he will see me a day after.

He has rescheduled a couple of times and told me to meet him after lunch time. He asked me to give him my bank details and will make a transfer. A bank receipt (screen capture) has been sent to my mobile number and it looks genuine with correct.

I met him at a bank where I was doing banking, I took him to my car and gave him 2 phones. He kept telling me it would take 24 hours to receive the payment as my account was a new account.

Westpac confirmed that payment didn't go through. Payment is never received and there was another guy picking up his number and told me he has gone back to India. Facebook account has been closed.

What I have:

  • Real Name : Mod: Removed Personal Information

  • Location: Parramatta, NSW.

  • Profile pictures and a couple of his friends, family members.
  • The mobile number was used to contact me.
  • A confirmation the mobile number owner is Mod: Removed Personal Information, telstra Network.
  • Text messages.

  • Fake banking receipt probably showing his account number where he transferred from.
    Mod: Removed Personal Information

  • I think that bank and a real estate agent where I parked my car and gave 2 phones to him have footage.

  • Reported to police.

If anyone can help to recover loss, I would appreciate and give away one of those phones.
Thank you

UPDATE 20/01: If anyone was victim, please contact me to grab Police contact to sort things out.

UPDATE 13/01: A member PM asking to help me with his own website.
UPDATE: I have been given a couple of valuable messages.
UPDATE: I was told, Police has looked into the person with a name Mod: Removed Personal Information

This post has turned into a witch hunt. Fine to discuss but leave personal information out of it. Please leave the police to investigate.

Financial

Comments

      • stonkered on 12/01/2018 - 17:58
        +2

        I can get you this info for a price, payment first though, western union only.

  • arnieb on 11/01/2018 - 23:43

    far out! lesson learnt - don't make these deals without hard cash!!!

  • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 00:12

    Any update on this? I am curious to know. It is a shame on the Indian/Gujarati community. Given the Patel surname I would definitely try those temple as mentioned by some one earlier.

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 07:26
      +1

      I have a couple of messages from other members, will update if there is an update.

  • tee123 on 12/01/2018 - 00:37
    +11

    You just got Patelled

  • PopCounty on 12/01/2018 - 00:49

    Sorry to hear that OP. Feeling sad for you and very bad for that thug.

    Contact ‘A current affair’. Convey your story as a lesson for all Aussie to not fall trapped. There is potential they may get bit of ur story. This may also put police on their toes for ur case.

    Other way is, to post ur story on FB as a warning to/possible scam for all Aussie. M pretty sure that would get some traction. And someone may actually identify him. But do check any legality first.

  • smr23 on 12/01/2018 - 01:09

    Sorry to hear this mate - but it’s a lesson learnt. Next time do a pick up, in cash.

    What I can say is -
    Try track him down in the NSW area (looks like a international student)
    Go into your phone and hide your number and call him if you have his number
    Try put his real name and his picture out everywhere - put it on FB too

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 16:48

      Yeah, a lesson learnt. Thanks for your suggestion

  • GS83 on 12/01/2018 - 05:00

    I would recommend it's time you go to Indian embassy with all the proofs. Also tweet on the official handle.

    Get as much detail as possible from the person who picks up the phone on his number and see if you can reach his employer or university.

    Also shame him on the FB, send FB messages to his family members.

    • GS83 on 12/01/2018 - 16:54

      If you have copy of police report, then you can approach Immigration department to find out if the person is in the country or not.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 07:01
    +1

    haha another person scammed on gumtree/facebook. I used to feel sorry for people but even my mum knows better about when "dealing on gumtree" and she can barely use a computer.

    Find him - Bash him - unless you can do that, your money is never coming back.

  • IMadeYouReadThis on 12/01/2018 - 08:07

    do you have his email ID or phone number? Can you please PM me?

  • BudgetBountyOz on 12/01/2018 - 08:22
    +4

    Hope this story will be a thing of the past with real-time payments coming soon!

  • pegaxs on 12/01/2018 - 08:29
    +1

    So, with all the post on OzB of being ripped off/scammed exactly the same way as this and the importance of getting cash in your hand or cleared into your account, you decided to go through with it anyway…

    A fool and their money…

    • Piranha2004 on 12/01/2018 - 15:30
      +1

      Well to be fair it wasnt really his "money" as both phones were a gift.

      • pegaxs on 12/01/2018 - 16:19

        Oh, so no loss then…

        /thread

  • DiscoJango on 12/01/2018 - 09:12

    sorry to say op, but you just got scammed, and realistically, the chance of getting your large sum of money back is low.

    you will need to look at it as a lesson learned, and hopefully many people read your post and are aware of this type of scam

    looking back on it, and thinking about it, if someone is going to physically meet up with you to buy something, why would they insist on doing a bank transfer? why not just give the cash when you meet.

    • stonkered on 12/01/2018 - 18:01

      Legit reasons for not carrying that much cash.

  • cashie on 12/01/2018 - 09:15
    +9

    Wow, so you had $3500 worth of phones, advertised them on Facebook of all places, and handed over the phones without confirmed payment to a foreigner? Am I the only one not surprised this went south?
    You and your brother already have iPhone Xs and you were “given” another two? Seriously?
    Something smells wrong with this entire situation.

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 10:24

      Nothing wrong with a true story.

      • dealman on 12/01/2018 - 11:43

        Hey man sounds like you have an axe to grind against that Patel guy.

        I'm really surprised I'm actually glad that the conversation so far hasn't gone salt dissing all Indian Australians.

        for all we know you could have made up the entire story.

        Do you have any photos or any way of proving that you actually had the iPhones at the time and this is whole story that is actually true.

        It sounds completely baloney to me

        • smashed on 12/01/2018 - 11:45
          +2

          Yeah u would have an axe to grind too if somebody did this to you?

        • dealman on 12/01/2018 - 11:47
          +1

          @smashed:

          Absolutely I would.

          Where am having trouble believing you is you provided nothing to prove that you actually had the two phones.

          Show us a link to your Gumtree ad or Facebook post that was put before this OzBargain Post.

          Let us clear this up and find out who is true

        • smashed on 12/01/2018 - 11:48

          @dealman:

          I suspect he had two, but I don't believe that they were both Xmas presents.

        • dealman on 12/01/2018 - 11:49

          @smashed:

          I'm sorry mate my comment was intended for o p

  • Bullion78 on 12/01/2018 - 09:33
    +1

    You got his address?.. Send in the bikies, or better yet go and befriend some of Melbournes african gangs and pay the guy a visit now you have his FB deets. (No, I don't really condone this)

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 16:51

      Address, this is what I am looking for

      • GS83 on 12/01/2018 - 17:00

        You have their account number. Approach the bank with proofs and police report.

        • itstuan on 12/01/2018 - 18:36

          bank will never release client's info & not their problem dealing with it.

  • letmesingh on 12/01/2018 - 09:54
    +2

    Just checked. this guy have WhatsApp installed on his phone. try video calling from WhatsApp from a new number. I think he will answer.

    • smashed on 12/01/2018 - 10:16

      It should say. Has whatsapp installed on your phone..

  • Pikaloo on 12/01/2018 - 09:56

    "He kept telling me it would take 24 hours to receive the payment as my account was a new account."

    is a true statement, but it's your fault because you didn't wait for the funds to clear. He can't really reverse it so he is the one out of luck and needs to wait 24 hours.

  • theguyrules on 12/01/2018 - 09:57
    +1

    Why did he only send you $3370

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 10:23

      I will edit my post. $3500 was my asking price. He negotiated to reduce to $3370

  • jerjergege on 12/01/2018 - 10:02

    Anyone can edit a screenshot with paint.

    Shoulda got a receipt from the bank you met him at.

    I wonder if any kind of insurance would cover this, most likely not.

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 10:22

      No insurance. Unfortunately.

  • itstuan on 12/01/2018 - 10:30
    +1

    I know others have already advised you. Never part your stuff until cash in the pocket. Take it as an expensive lesson.
    Hope the police can help, but they are probably busy dealing with all the gang problems.

    • stonkered on 12/01/2018 - 18:05
      +1

      I think they are tied up with Bomber Thompson.

    • DiscoJango on 12/01/2018 - 21:37

      some hater downvoted your honest advice. i upvoted you.

      • itstuan on 12/01/2018 - 21:58

        thanks bro, so glad someone got my back :)

  • pyramid on 12/01/2018 - 10:39
    +1

    OP- did you ask your friend/relative who gifted you these phones about receipts?

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 10:52

      No, not yet as they are travelling.

  • orangeblossom on 12/01/2018 - 10:39

    Sadly, I also experienced the same problem. Sold my used iphone 6 plus for $450 in gumtree. An Indian guy contacted me on the 24th Dec to buy my iphone. He sent me a westpac transfer receipt similar to yours but different account number before coming to my house to collect the phone. The I waited until 2 Jan and the money never arrived. I started to threaten the guy and he deposited $300 to my account on the 4th Jan. Since then, I haven't heard anything from him and I am still short $150.

    When collecting the phone, he told me that he is a student living in Artarmon working as a courier driver. He earned $1000 a week and he is breaching his student visa condition by working that many hours. He can't get a phone contract as he is being paid cash on hand. I didn't think he was a scammer as his story seems genuine.

    An expensive lesson has been learnt!

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 16:54

      Hi, would you be able to PM me that receipt? It looks like a common trick happening

  • El Grande on 12/01/2018 - 10:44

    I think you can get Apple to block the phones if you have IMEI and your receipt. At least you might be able to stop him from enjoying your phone.

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 16:57
      -7

      To be honest, I don’t really want to do that at this stage. Pretty hard to explain.

      • El Grande on 12/01/2018 - 17:03
        -1

        If he jailbreaks them it's all over. You should have done it straight away. If you get them back you can get apple to unlock them.

      • DiscoJango on 12/01/2018 - 21:42
        +4

        plot twist: op is was selling stolen phones. and then got scammed. so the scammer scammed a scammer.

  • apu on 12/01/2018 - 10:48
    +2

    You met him at your bank yet you didn't ask him for cash? Despite the fact that you could have deposited the cash straight away into your bank account (if you were worried about carrying cash around)?

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 16:58
      -2

      I am doing banking for boss at different bank.

      • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2018 - 22:25

        Another convenient excuse…

  • aspirepranesh on 12/01/2018 - 10:58

    I can see the screenshot of his friends list which is only half… any chance you've a full picture? if you do, maybe try contacting his friends and explain the situation and see if someone would respond.

    Sorry about the loss and this mess. It is never fun to be scammed.

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 17:00

      Thank you. I don’t have an access to his profile any longer.

  • pyramid on 12/01/2018 - 11:16
    +14

    Am i the only one who thinks that this story has another part which OP is not revealing.

    • OzBrogains on 12/01/2018 - 11:21
      +1

      Yes

    • dealman on 12/01/2018 - 11:45
      +6

      I think the Op has a personal axe to grind. He has the most convenient excuse is for every single logical thing that can be done in this scenario..

      can't get the IMEI numbers because it was a gift.

      Can't ask the relatives who give the gift because they are travelling

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 12:11

      As i said, i kept this very short with important information to provide information. There is more details in 3 page report submitted to police.

      • pyramid on 12/01/2018 - 12:14
        +4

        Look mate, you are not doing any favour by providing xyz information here. You asked for help and we are trying to help you with whatever information you provided. I am done with this thread. Good luck.

    • WTF on 12/01/2018 - 15:40
      +8

      Yea this whole story sounds dogey to me. OP AND his brother both gets Iphone X for as gifts for Xmas while both already have IPhone X. OP then sells Both Phones (no idea why the brother did not sell his one separately) and now cannot get IMEI numbers as the person who gave gifts is travelling. They met at a bank (who meets at a bank to share just a screenshot ???)…

      Either this is a troll post or we are only getting a part of the story….

      OP where did you really get the phones from in the first places?

      • BartholemewH on 12/01/2018 - 23:13
        +1

        Username checks out.

  • OzBrogains on 12/01/2018 - 11:22
    +1

    Sorry but you probably aren't going to see that money again. For what it's worth it would take me 10 seconds to fake a bank screenshot.

    If you have IMEI numbers, the best thing you can do is get them blocked. You can sleep a bit easier knowing he won't have the satisfaction of being able to sell it again and he only has paperweights (assuming his future buyers check).

    • jace88 on 12/01/2018 - 16:26

      Also assumes he only tries to sell it in Australia.

      • bigbadboogieman on 12/01/2018 - 17:58

        Not sure if Apple offers activation blocks based on police reports, etc… If they do, they can't activate the phones anywhere in the world.

        • jace88 on 12/01/2018 - 18:34

          I thought it only applies if the device is activated not BNIB.

  • dji1111111 on 12/01/2018 - 12:18

    Don't understand why people who have absolutely no basic knowledge of protecting themselves from scams like this get involved in selling high value items on Facebook/Gumtree.
    I would not hold my breath on ever seeing your money or the phones.
    You might as well have gave out your phones to anyone who verbally promises to pay you tomorrow. That's essentially what you did by handing over the phones before the funds cleared your account.

  • 0FoxGiven on 12/01/2018 - 12:23

    If you have other screenshots of his facebook profile which show a few of his friends from his friends list, search for those names on facebook and hit them up when you see a matching profile pic. Then, ask them if they know how you could contact him, better yet tell them of his crimes so that they can shame him if possible.

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 12:37

      I have done this and no reply at all. Not sure how facebook messenger works with unknown contact.

      • IMadeYouReadThis on 12/01/2018 - 14:54

        send me screenshots of his friends and I will contact them for you.

        • jace88 on 12/01/2018 - 16:25

          They could all be fake if this scammer had planned to scam all along.

        • IMadeYouReadThis on 12/01/2018 - 17:05
          +1

          @jace88:

          They could all be fake if this scammer had planned to scam all along.

          I don't think so, according to above screenshot the dude has 376 friends, you won't add 376 people before scamming people. On the other hand, my secondary facebook account only have 12-13 "friends" and most of them are porn girls :D

        • jace88 on 12/01/2018 - 18:34

          @IMadeYouReadThis: seen plenty of bot accounts run scams before so not unimaginable.

  • belongsinforums on 12/01/2018 - 12:49
    +2

    another 'gumtree' thread

  • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 13:17
    +1

    We should all call that mobile number :)

  • tonystank on 12/01/2018 - 13:24

    Hi Mate,
    I am sorry that it happened to you but first Facebook image you have shared is the wrong person.
    Other 2 images you have shared is some random person. I am happy to talk to you about this.
    please PM me.

    Thanks

    • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 13:52

      Hi, Can you Pm me as I can’t PM on mobile version I believe. Thanks

      • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 14:34
        +12

        I can’t PM on mobile version

        You are starting to sound very hard to believe here.

        • pyramid on 12/01/2018 - 14:45
          +5

          Sorry i break my promise and came back to reply. User rkbarot joined OZbargain ~1hr back and ready to help with info like image that OP has shared is wrong person. How does rkbarot know that image is of wrong person…something really fishy is going on…

        • IMadeYouReadThis on 12/01/2018 - 14:55

          @pyramid:

          Sorry i break my promise

          haha

        • pyramid on 12/01/2018 - 14:59
          +1

          @IMadeYouReadThis: I Made you read this…lol…

        • zonra on 12/01/2018 - 15:51
          +4

          @pyramid:
          What do you mean?
          He waited a whooping 23 minutes after joining before commenting here..
          Seriously tho, is that you Mod: Personal Information? (spoken with a side glance at user rkbarot while wearing my tinfoil hat and lighting up my cigar)
          The plot thickens.,
          P/s: I don’t smoke

        • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 15:53
          +1

          @zonra:
          Lol, sounds like it is.

      • tryingtohelp on 12/01/2018 - 16:07
        +5

        This is fishy, they are not random by the looks of it. They all are one person. Look at the mole on the cheek, it's in all 3 photos. 376 friends, definitely not a fake name, perhaps nickname.
        Your best bet:-
        Contact all NSW UNIs with this info, photo and police report via email. you should get something to link to.
        Mod: Personal Information - If you are reading this, you probably got 2 shiny new Iphones that will last for another 2 years?. But what you are risking is:-
        Your permanent residency and citizenship,
        Jobs in Aus, as all jobs will go for your criminal check unless you are willing to work for cash and stay there forever, which as a Gujju, you would never prefer, cash jobs won't help in raising mortgage from banks etc.
        if you have already returned, then you cannot enter the AU Soil as this has been reported to police, and your name will always be searched for criminal checks while applying for any kind of Au Visa.
        Think long term…
        Mod: Personal Information, after reading this, I would have contacted the seller, asked for payment options and paid in full.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 16:16

          Yup absolutely true. If this is true and OP really got scammed, Nirav I would like to tell you that gujaratis are some of the smartest businesman in the world and hard negotiators but definately not thieves. Rkbarot must be a friend of him as Barot is a Gujarati surname as well. Please get back to the OP and give home the full money.

        • zonra on 12/01/2018 - 16:19

          Another new member, welcome!
          And you raise all fair points sir, chances are if the thread catches more traction, the perpetrator will be exposed sooner or later and risking his future here in Oz.
          I’d just pay the OP his/her rightful money for the sake of the next few years’ worth of good nights’ sleep.
          OP please keep us updated on the outcome.

        • pyramid on 12/01/2018 - 16:28
          +2

          @zonra: This is turning to full drama…Anyone from Holly/Bollywood like to make a movie?

        • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 17:48

          @zonra: thanks, please check update at the bottom of my post.

      • tonystank on 12/01/2018 - 16:20
        +4

        One of my friend shared this link with me. I am unable to PM you as account has to be 1 day old as per ozbargain restriction. I am the fourth person in the first image. I don't know the Mod: Removed Personal Info you dealt with but the image you have shared, He is friend of mine. other 2 images are of a different person. I can organize a meeting if you want. PM me if you can or else I will PM you tomorrow.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 16:33

          Ok it's good to make it clear.

        • tryingtohelp on 12/01/2018 - 16:48
          +3

          Mod: Removed Personal Info.

          As far as i can see the 3 photos in this link, they belong to the same person. Others, please confirm.
          Picture in brown tees, or Indian flag watermark, or snowy background, they all are same…period
          Which photo are you referring to as 4th person?

          Nirav - I'm an Indian too, and i would again advise you to think long term.
          It's not hard to nail down someone in this social media world.

          I found the lost camera years ago in Queensland and found the real owner in Taiwan using social media….took 2 years for me to do so. Got there at the end and still carry an amazing feeling for doing so.

        • dust on 12/01/2018 - 16:52

          @bamsegod: I'm a little bit worried about the potential for this to turn into another Reddit Boston bomber witch hunt.

        • dbui8743 on 12/01/2018 - 16:57

          @tryingtohelp: Same person.

          Anyone saying they are different are fishy lol.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2018 - 17:06

          @dust: sorry didn't mean to. Only if this is true and OP is legit.

        • IMadeYouReadThis on 12/01/2018 - 17:09

          other 2 images are of a different person.

          No way, he is different.

        • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 17:10

          @tryingtohelp: Thank you very much for being here and sharing.

        • tryingtohelp on 12/01/2018 - 17:12

          @IMadeYouReadThis: Please zoom all photos to see a mole on one cheek. It is common in all photos

        • dust on 12/01/2018 - 17:33
          +1

          @bamsegod: No need to apologise. I'm just worried because social media/the internet is SO powerful and the outcome of something like this can be huge. But collectively we're doing a lot of intrusive investigative work with very little information.

        • IMadeYouReadThis on 12/01/2018 - 18:10

          @IMadeYouReadThis:

          No way, he is different.

          Sorry I meant. No way is he different!

          I don't know why I put the comma there and changed the context, bloody english language!

        • ccvonlineoz on 12/01/2018 - 18:41

          I can’t see the button of START A CONVERSATION when I click onto your nick. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

  • Moneyneversleeps on 12/01/2018 - 13:46
    +2

    Make a another fake add of same or similar item, Hoping he will take the bait again. Been reading a lot of The Art of War.

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