I Think I Might Have Been Scammed Selling Ed Sheeran Concert Tickets

LMeowwie on 15/03/2018 - 16:50
Last edited 22/03/2018 - 21:52 by 2 other users

Hi there, my first time posting so please be kind. I recently sold a pair of Ed Sheeran tickets on Gumtree because I couldn't make it the very last minute. Someone messaged me and said he would be happy to do a bank transfer with a screenshot of the receipt upon payment. That happened last Monday (Victoria public holiday)

I have never wanted to conduct bank transfers especially if the fund is not immediately cleared into my account. However, my friend told me that it's fine as long as there is a proof of receipt. Anyway, I got the picture of the receipt from his bank (he's with Westpac and I'm with NAB BTW) and I emailed him the tickets. Anyway, as of today, I have yet to see the money in my account and I tried calling him but his phone was turned off.

I went to NAB and they informed me that it could potentially take 2-3 business days for the funds to show. Otherwise I could file a dispute after today and they can look into it. I have the guy's email address and full name. I'm wondering if there is anything else that I can do to get in touch with him or at least track him down.

Any kind advice is very much appreciated..

UPDATE : Thank you everyone for your responses. I haven't been able to update for the past few days as I have been trying to recover my money but alas, to no avail. So yes, I've let this go and treat it as a lesson. Hopefully this post helps other people as well. I just wish people are kinder to one another.

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Comments

  • kevinrudd on 16/03/2018 - 12:16

    See here. Similar situation to yours. The receipt may have been faked.

  • Herbse on 16/03/2018 - 12:51
    +3

    Don't ever listen to your friend when it comes to money ever again.

  • minniethemoocher on 16/03/2018 - 12:53

    If you become aware of this before the concert you can tell the sellers the tickets were cancelled but I am pretty sure the concert has already happened.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 16/03/2018 - 13:01

    I'm so prejudiced I assume no one would scam another for Ed Sheeran tickets unless they were onselling them.

    But anyhoo, I wonder if anyone here has tried Twickets? It's where you sell tickets at or below face value only (or you cam scam people on Viagogo…). The benefit is you can still advertise your Twickets on Gumtree, Facebook etc for extra marketing.

  • veej on 16/03/2018 - 13:09

    Argh, you never send anything unless you see the cash first. Especially based on a picture of something because it can be faked.

    Hopefully you can get your money back somehow.

  • Seraphin7 on 16/03/2018 - 13:41

    Yep, scammed. Whether or not you get your money back is now a matter for the police.

    Chasing this up through your bank is just a waste of time. They don't want to be involved (and nor should they be) in these sorts of squabbles.

  • berger on 16/03/2018 - 13:44

    there was a thread with a receipt that was a scheduled payment, so they were able to process it, and cancel before funds pass through

  • Zabuza on 16/03/2018 - 13:48
    +4

    There is PayID for a reason now. Sign up for it and use it :) takes few minutes to get it up and registered

    • ribze1 on 18/03/2018 - 18:05

      this

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 19/03/2018 - 09:07

      It's not that simple just yet. Not all of the 13 banks signed up to NPP are ready. Citibank, for example, won't roll out NPP until the second half of this year and HSBC "has chosen to connect with a mature NPP system".

      (I'm losing a day or more of interest with ING thanks to Citibank's delays…and my need to fake a $1000 deposit).

    • AlienC on 20/03/2018 - 00:02

      Is Westpac in it and are there any transactions fees? What's the pros and cons compared to say PayPal? I use PayPal as much as I can now but I know there are some fees and that can be a pain but it has good foolproof refunds and scam prevention or recuperation schemes.

      • Zabuza on 20/03/2018 - 11:17

        From what i have used for now its fee-less and instant. Pros for seller getting the money. Cons for the buyer on the seller not sending the item/problems with the item on arrival. Although you do have the sellers real number as they need to register their number to their bank account. (You use their number as the details to send money to)

        Although scammers are scammers who knows what they'll do

  • smashed on 16/03/2018 - 13:49

    How do you know his real full name? Anybody can make up an email address / name.
    Was he a new 2018 gumtree user? You may at least have some luck if they have been around a while..

  • Munki on 16/03/2018 - 14:26
    +9

    I don't know how this can still happen in this day and age.

    NEVER DEAL WITH BANK TRANSFERS UNLESS YOU ARE WAITING TIL THE FUNDS CLEAR BEFORE SENDING GOODS

    Or just don't deal on scumtree.

  • abb on 16/03/2018 - 14:26
    -1

    If the concert has not happened yet, you should call Ticketek and ask them to cancel the tickets because they were stolen.

  • fukunaga on 16/03/2018 - 14:54

    I just wanted to say that NAB to Westpac and vice versa transfers usually appear within 1 business day (usually same day if it's not a public holiday and depending on the time the transaction was made). If it's been more than 2 business days, it doesn't look too positive I'm afraid.

  • freemoneyhunter on 16/03/2018 - 16:41
    +6

    "However, my friend told me that it's fine as long as there is a proof of receipt"

    You need to get yourself smarter friends. Anyway, you still might be holding onto those tickets after the event so I do understand the dilemma you were in, probably had to risk it. I would just forget it and wash your hands of it (no I'm not him).

    • goodspeler on 16/03/2018 - 16:44
      +2

      username checks out, you're the guy.

  • DanielR on 16/03/2018 - 16:43
    +2

    Was his name Nirav Patel by any chance?

    • d39833 on 17/03/2018 - 00:30

      I thought he's in prison?

  • agam2104 on 16/03/2018 - 17:04
    +1

    No funds in bank no goods.

  • T1OOO on 16/03/2018 - 17:56
    -8

    Can we please ban posts like this pls ?

    People posting after the fact but not before. U learned a valuable lesson.

    Bloody hell.

    • veej on 18/03/2018 - 13:19
      +7

      I'm glad these types of posts exist, it educates people who don't know about these types of scams. Not everyone is an internet expert.

  • field1985 on 16/03/2018 - 17:57
    +9

    Given the well documented issues around gumtree and bank transfers, this barely even qualifies as "being scammed".
    You are never going to see the money. It never even existed.
    Clever on their part to target Ed Sheeran fans. God some people are so gullible!

  • [Deactivated] on 16/03/2018 - 18:11
    +2

    Worst case scenario… You've lost a few hundred bucks.

    Best to take this as a lesson and move on

  • ovrsze on 16/03/2018 - 18:12

    Try searching for where he registered his bank account using the BSB locator below. Possibly call up the local bank requesting for some details if possible.

    http://www.bsbnumbers.com

    • [Deactivated] on 16/03/2018 - 18:41

      Bank will tell you if an account exist with those bsb and account number. No more than that.

      Still good to check to work out if you've been scammed

  • itstuan on 16/03/2018 - 18:18
    +3

    You should have asked OB first before asking your dumb friend. Anyway, try to make him/her responsible for your loss so he/she won't give out similar advice to someone else in the future.

  • points4life on 16/03/2018 - 18:19
    +1

    Should have used Pay ID, most banks support it: https://payid.com.au/

    • altomic on 16/03/2018 - 18:28
      +2

      Bankwest - not yet

      • points4life on 16/03/2018 - 18:32
        +1

        OP did a "transfer" from between Westpac and NAB, both have Pay ID enabled.

        • yaziyo on 17/03/2018 - 20:57
          +2

          Westpac is not live yet (even though the original media release in Feb said they were)

  • pformag on 16/03/2018 - 18:59

    Use this, track him down.

    https://www.spokeo.com/email-search

    or this

    https://pipl.com

  • jlogic on 16/03/2018 - 19:13

    Makes me want to buy concert tickets and advertise them on Gumtree to track down all the scammers.

    Any popular concerts coming up? I know Taylor Swift concerts aren't selling so not that one.

    • cashews on 17/03/2018 - 13:00

      You wouldn't need to buy tickets, just use a photo of someone elses.

      • jlogic on 17/03/2018 - 15:14
        +1

        I don't want to be the scammer though lol.

  • HeWhoKnows on 16/03/2018 - 19:25

    Wait to see if the funds show up on Monday.
    If not there is not much you can do other than call the Police and ask them

  • biozet on 16/03/2018 - 19:26

    You are not alone …I heard it on abc news

  • DiscoJango on 16/03/2018 - 19:35

    saw a news article on a couple (scammers) who got busted to the tune of around $1mil. flaunting their expenses all over social media. was pretty obvious tho as they were the most bogan looking people you could find. their main method was ebay\gumtree paypal scams, like how the op just got done.

    • John on 20/03/2018 - 01:35

      I saw that news. That’s actually different and rather smart in fact, albeit illegal. They actually used a loophole in the system. They created fake buyer and fake seller account, claimed money back from paypal for an item that doesnt exist and payment that never made. So they actually scam Paypal

  • Neptunesblood on 16/03/2018 - 20:46
    -2

    i deleted my first post. Just thought of something. If you say you emailed him the tickets. Then the tickets are etickets I suspect. So you would still have the original email and tickets. All you have to do is reprint them and beat him to the gate. Line up VERY early and get in before him. When he comes along and tries the same tickets they will be rejected. I know you said you were unable to go so get someone else to do it.

    • itstuan on 16/03/2018 - 20:59
      -1

      Or try contact the officials & let them know your tickets has been compromised. Ask if they can reissue with new ones and mark old ones invalid or something…

      • berger on 16/03/2018 - 22:08

        Concert has happened already

  • Illian on 16/03/2018 - 22:55
    +7

    'Ed Sheeran tickets'

    Sorry about this, but given the above I just can't muster up any sympathy..

  • netsurfer on 16/03/2018 - 22:56
    +1

    Selling an item and have it delivered electronically is quite risky. I learned it the hard way recently too.

    I did it through eBay and PayPal. The payment was received (via PayPal) and eBay indicated "safe to send". The buyer got the item and 1 month later initiated a credit card charge back claiming fraudulent transaction. PayPal immediate raised a dispute against me (yes, PayPal did that, rather than buyer). E-mail showing I sent the item was useless. Even screenshots showing that the buyer actually got the item (game related item) was useless. eBay support had no idea and kept on saying PayPal will offer buyer protection. No, items delivered digitally are NOT covered.

    There is a reason that feeBay do NOT offer any final value discount on voucher listings. All those $1 final value fee or no final value fee specials EXCLUDE vouchers/tickets every time. If you must sell, do so after payment is cleared AND seriously consider registered post. Some OZBers recommend that if you must sell items and have them delivered electronically, buyer identity verification is required (i.e. the buyer must send you a picture of a photo ID matching PayPal account name - some parts of the photo ID can be masked out but sufficient info must be shown). Personally, I don't think that's enough - charge back can still be initiated.

    I had no issue selling movie tickets back in 2016 (maybe I was lucky), but 2017 and 2018, a totally different story. I had another customer requesting a charge back recently as well (claiming unauthorised transaction as well). Not only it was a messy process for me, that person simply felt she did nothing wrong and kept on asking me why it happened - as if I would know someone managed to hack in to her eBay and Paypal accounts (if I did, why would I even allow the transaction to proceed?).

    People know sellers are vulnerable when items are delivered digitally and that person obviously took advantage of the fact OP needed to sell the ticket(s) urgently. It is possible to send a PayPal invoice and had the buyer pays for it. However, for expensive tickets, consider express post or registered post (the latter is better; unless you use eBay's postage label service for express post - because the recipient address would be stored digitally by AusPost). If you posted the item and AusPost acknowledged it (and has full address info stored against the tracking ID), PayPal will cover it. If you don't want to go through eBay, and have to use express post, add registered post so you get the paperwork with the address and have it stamped by a Post Office staff.

    • nobarginsarehere on 17/03/2018 - 03:56

      Needs to be registered post, so they have to sign for it (or pick it up with their ID)

      PayPal will NOT accept Express Post tracking as proof of delivery and will side with the buyer ((profanity) I know)
      Source: Been there, done that

  • Mosher on 16/03/2018 - 23:51
    +8

    Consider yourself lucky as you lost the money but the scammer had to go to an ed sheeran concert :)

    • tryagain on 17/03/2018 - 00:02
      +4

      Scammer probably resld the tickets……… 10 times

      • ozzpete on 17/03/2018 - 03:44
        +1

        Thats what I was thinking. Buyer probably onsold the tickets that were scammed.

  • Twodogs on 17/03/2018 - 00:45
    -2

    Contact where you bought the tickets and tell them you have been scammed and they may be able to deactivate/cancel them by the ticket numbers , good luck .

    • xuqi on 17/03/2018 - 01:02
      +1

      Ed already played & left Melbourne so no point.

      • Twodogs on 17/03/2018 - 01:43

        Ahh ok bummer

  • Blugok on 17/03/2018 - 01:43

    "it could potentially take 2-3 business days for the funds to show"

    wasn't (or still is?) this one of the fundamental problem of Australian banking industry?
    It is faster to take a flight, hand deliver cash to someone in another State rather than transferring money via online (diff bank) on a weekend.

    • SnakeCasablanca on 17/03/2018 - 11:23
      +1

      I guess you could say its the 'fundamental problem of the Australian banking industry". But then again you could head to the US where they don't even have internet banking transfers between most of their banks and cheques are still the norm.

      Banking in Australia is actually quite advanced. But I guess everyone always wants everything better and has no idea how good they have it.

      • LUTSlit on 17/03/2018 - 16:02

        So you say 'most' USA banks don't have online banking transfer capabilities? What's your source?

        • dbui8743 on 17/03/2018 - 19:30

          Just from experience I guess. Anywho, I once had to navigate through bank of america online banking and it is atrocious.

          As to online bank transfer, it is still either wire, which costs an arm and a leg to banks within the US or the other one (I dont remember what it's called but I think works similar to BPAY) costs a little less.

          It has not consistency and takes a lot more education to do bank transfers in the US than the simple bsb and account number here.

        • LUTSlit on 17/03/2018 - 20:11

          @dennis3107: Apparently there is over 5 thousand different banks in USA and due to all the different platforms, cheques will be commonplace for years to come.

        • SnakeCasablanca on 18/03/2018 - 10:43

          My source is that I travelled to a banking conference in the US 6 months ago and spoke directly to people from those banks.

      • Blugok on 17/03/2018 - 19:39

        Been to asian countries (those third world countries) and watch the online banking yet?
        Their online banking interface are mostly horrible.

        But their speed of fund transfer is top notch
        Diff bank transfer in just under 3 business hours. Some with small fees for online transfer (less then $1), some banks offer fee free
        and I wasnt talking about RTGS transfer

        • jonathonsunshine on 18/03/2018 - 15:56

          Three hours isn't really that great? In Australia, it's more about when the bank decides to process or approve incoming transactions. My friend at work with BoQ gets paid at whatever time work processes it because they use BoQ as well. Suncorp guy gets paid at midnight, ANZ guy gets paid at 4 or 7 depending on when it was processed at work.

          Now consider, I bought some shirts from EB online with paypal, went into the store and returned one and they refunded the money to my eftpos card instantly.

          The banks have got everything all sewn up, just the way they like it.

  • nobarginsarehere on 17/03/2018 - 03:53

    Well you just learnt a lesson, not that expensive in the grand scheme

    I've been scammed, others have been scammed, sorry

  • sparkles on 17/03/2018 - 08:07
    +1

    The scammer has been dealt their punishment. They attended an Ed Sheeran concert.

    • LUTSlit on 17/03/2018 - 15:58
      +1

      You totally have his songs on your iPhone.

      • Munki on 19/03/2018 - 15:23
        +2

        Just Thinking Out Loud, but this response was Perfect. I bet he has a Photograph of him too! Don't believe for a second that he doesn't Sing along to his songs. But you know what they say about people in Lego Houses, they shouldn't throw bricks, but What Do I Know?

  • [Deactivated] on 17/03/2018 - 08:32
    +1

    Is this another troll post? I'm certain I saw exactly the same post months ago about a guy with two iPhone X and got scammed the same way.

    • gimme on 17/03/2018 - 09:12
      +3

      nah just natural selection

    • cashie on 17/03/2018 - 09:12

      You did, what happened to that guy I wonder?

      • Baysew on 17/03/2018 - 09:28
        +3

        He certainly learnt a thing or two.

        I think he was seen at a recent concert for some English guy.

      • jlogic on 17/03/2018 - 12:06

        According to him the coppers got the person.

  • JimmyF on 17/03/2018 - 14:39

    I Think I Might Have Been Scammed

    Oh

    Someone messaged me and said he would be happy to do a bank transfer with a screenshot of the receipt upon payment

    Yes you have been scammed. Its an old 'trick' to mock up a screenshot!

    NEVER send items until cash is in the bank.

    But in the future with the New Payments Platform (NPP), payments will shortly be instant for everyone, so this scam will go away

    • scrypton on 17/03/2018 - 16:07

      Even when you see the transaction on your internet banking, make sure that the amount has been cleared.

      I read somewhere that some people deposited blank cheques to trick you into thinking that the funds have arrived — only to find a few days later that the cheque bounced and you are left with nothing.

      • JimmyF on 17/03/2018 - 17:34

        yeah true. you can do a 'whoops' sent it to the wrong account and ask for it back now days too! :/

    • jonathonsunshine on 18/03/2018 - 16:39

      With NPP we will see the exact same thing happening except instead of "I sent the tickets but he didn't send me the money", we'll be hearing "I sent him the money but he didn't send me the tickets".

      • JimmyF on 18/03/2018 - 18:14

        we'll be hearing "I sent him the money but he didn't send me the tickets".

        And how is that any different to today with NPP?

        • jonathonsunshine on 18/03/2018 - 19:27

          So the current scam is to say you paid when you haven't. You get sent a free item.

          When payments start to go through instantly, scammers will start buying stuff, and then saying they never received the item. Scum bags will find a way to be scum bags.

        • JimmyF on 18/03/2018 - 19:34

          @jonathonsunshine: But its gumtree. There is no real 'comeback' unlike say ebay/paypal.

          I'm also lost, instant payment or delayed payment of 24hrs, I don't under your new version of the scam.

          The scam today is tricking people to supply the goods by thinking a payment has been made but takes 24 hrs to arrive.

          Once payments become near instant, this scam disappears as people will be waiting for payment.

        • jonathonsunshine on 18/03/2018 - 19:53

          So you sell something, the money comes through, then you just don't send the item and say you did. SCAM!

          Or you send the item, then THEY say they didn't receive it. SCAM.

          Instant payments will make things better but even then, it's not cash.

          All the people who received money through PayPal and then had it taken back from them… I dunno, I'm still in favour of it but as long as institutions like banks or PayPal are able to do what they like with your money, people are going to find a way to scan the system. And the banks and PayPal don't care as long as it is not them getting scammed.

        • JimmyF on 18/03/2018 - 21:29

          @jonathonsunshine:

          So you sell something, the money comes through, then you just don't send the item and say you did. SCAM!

          And thats different with NPP how? You can do that today.

          Or you send the item, then THEY say they didn't receive it. SCAM.

          As above

          Remember saying?

          With NPP we will see the exact same thing happening except instead of "I sent the tickets but he didn't send me the money"

          Still confused.

  • LUTSlit on 17/03/2018 - 15:57
    +2

    Set up a fraudulent direct debit for the same amount to pay one of your bills.

  • Aneurism on 17/03/2018 - 17:59

    Sometimes you have to pay to learn that there are random people that are out there in this world that can't be trusted and effectively ruin things for those that can.

    You could put out your story on social media with information on the exact seat (time/day/location) in case someone who happened to be seated nearby might have randomly captured that person in a photo that could be used to name and shame.. Internet detectives can sometimes be quite vigilant with these kind of causes.

  • OrderInWrongWordsThe on 17/03/2018 - 18:27

    I noted that you said in your comments that you tried calling them. Did you ever get any actual communications from them over that number such as SMS or a phone call?

    If you did then let's not forget that to get a phone number in Australia you need to provide 100 points of ID. If you know the number is the actual person I would message them and inform them that the money hasn't cleared and that they should contact you ASAP or else you will be providing police and the bank with all the details you received so far as you believe you have been scammed.

    I had a co-worker who got scammed by someone and they used their actual phone number. Went to the cops etc. and 2 weeks later the scammer was arrested as she was dumb enough to use her own phone to scam about 10 people with a fake ticket scam. Probably won't ever see their money again but at least the person who did it got caught.

    Worst case this is an expensive lesson into trading online without knowning anything about the other person.

    • dbui8743 on 17/03/2018 - 19:26
      -2

      I think unless its a postpaid number, anyone can get a prepaid number without id online?

      • OrderInWrongWordsThe on 17/03/2018 - 21:21
        +2

        Shouldn't be possible. If you get a SIM card online they may not collect ID from you at the time but when you call up to activate they collect it then.

        http://www.amta.org.au/articles/amta/FAQs.on.Prepaid.ID.Chec…
        https://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/id-checks-for-prepaid-mobile…

        Pretty sure the burner phone stuff you see in Movies is just not possible in Australia although then again maybe you could get one from a country which doesn't collect ID have it shipped to Australia and then use it roaming… That seems a lot of work.

        • dbui8743 on 17/03/2018 - 22:02

          I don't know. You can tracked and traced but unless they catch you physically, that's all they are gonna get.

          I activate Kogan sims all the time for new offers haha.

  • gamesdead on 17/03/2018 - 19:16

    I recently got scammed too but it is completely my fault and I am too trusting of others. However, is there anything I can do with the details I have of the scammer? I have their Facebook profile (With photos and information), their car, their car number plate, the area they live in, their phone number, their bsb and account number. I have already gone to ACORN and Scam watch. I live in Melbourne and the scammer lives in south australia so i'm not sure if the SA police will do anything. What else can I do? :(

    • Eeples on 17/03/2018 - 22:45
      -1

      Find out his employer and ask his employer to hold back some money from his pay and to send it to you. Explain the whole story.

      That ought to annoy him and his boss.

      • gamesdead on 17/03/2018 - 23:41

        They're a stay at home mum :/

        • McFly on 20/03/2018 - 00:33
          +1

          Scam at home mum…

  • dbui8743 on 17/03/2018 - 19:30
    +2

    What do people have against Ed Sheeran? Lol.

    • Blugok on 17/03/2018 - 19:57
      -7

      The club isn't the best place to find a lover
      We oz love the club to find one

  • LUTSlit on 17/03/2018 - 20:14
    +4

    Plot Twist: Money arrives Monday

    • SpendLess on 18/03/2018 - 10:48
      -1

      further plot twist he is a first time scammer trying to find out if he will get caught…

    • bejahi on 18/03/2018 - 20:33

      Plot twist… There was no "friend".

      Totally just asking for a mate!

  • edreamer46 on 18/03/2018 - 14:31

    PayId must have been used

  • Chewiebacca on 18/03/2018 - 17:39
    +1

    Surprised that even in 2018 this isn’t common knowledge, never release goods without having money cleared in your account, cop it as a learning experience and move on.

  • berger on 18/03/2018 - 20:26

    Started a thread and gone hiding. Wonder if there will be money in his account tomorrow or not!

  • tighttighttight1 on 18/03/2018 - 22:33

    I believe the similar issue was posted here not too long ago. Where a trade was made as OP was sent screenshots of bank transfer receipts, so assumed it was okay.
    Had a quick search, but I can't find the forum post. If you find it, I remember some good advice was provided.
    EDIT: Found the link
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/354698

  • Lucky13 on 19/03/2018 - 01:15

    He could've cancelled the transaction with his bank after transferring the money and sending you the receipt, that's possible. Damn, hope it ends well. Good luck!

    UPDATE:
    In Westpac transaction info says "Planned payments and transfers can be amended or cancelled before 7:00am on the date of payment". From reading it looks like they can cancel online transactions overnight between 10pm-7am.

    Info on Westpac Transactions -
    http://westpac.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/527

  • kelza83 on 19/03/2018 - 02:01
    -3

    Because I have no idea if the concert is over and done with, this may be useless advice but did you think to just turn up at the concert seeing as you have the tickets still? And if they say they have already been taken you could show them your ID to prove they were yours? And then they could take you to the seats that this doofus has scammed you for and you could demand your money? Just a wild thought.

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