Possibly Scammed on Facebook Marketplace?

ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 15:59
Last edited 21/12/2020 - 16:33

I recently sold something for a pretty material amount, I wanted to get rid of it ASAP basically and did not care too much about making money off it vs retail.

I listed it on FB marketplace and got a couple replies, guy asks me to drive out on Saturday night and would pay me extra for fuel. I met him, seemed pretty innocent and nice. I asked to do it by Osko but he wasn't able to as the bank he was with did not allow outgoing Osko, only incoming payments (confirmed and checked). He gave me about 15% of the price as cash and transferred the rest, sent me two receipts (two screenshots of same receipt), and since it was a weekend, obviously there are delays for the bank transfer to go through. It was St.George to Commbank. He did mention that he was using the browser bank portal on his phone as the app didn't work well for him, I did not know if he actually had the balls to make a fake receipt in front of me.

I checked the legitimacy of the screenshot (never used St. George before), with ABN and BSB matching. Time matches to when he transferred it in front of me, and account number matches to mine (although I gave it to him the day before). Both screenshots had matching information. Seemed good. If anyone uses St. George the category also says "Withdrawal & Transfers - Withdrawal" from a Complete Freedom account and status as "Successful" - can't confirm if these seem right. He tells me to mark the product as sold so he could give me a rating, then messages me afterwards to ask me about when I got the product (initial shipments had flaws)

Anyway, anomaly pops up on Sunday where he removes me from our chat together on facebook, and it seems he's blocked me (click on his profile and FB gives me technical error). Can't find his facebook profile although I still have his picture cached in my browser in Messenger which clearly shows his face in a 100x200 px picture. Wondering if he deleted his account for some other reason or this was a scam. This has made me anxious since then and wondering if its a valuable lesson I've learnt in dealing with second-hand markets. It's currently 4pm on a Monday and I'm twiddling my fingers waiting for a transfer notification to come through, unless i have to wait until tomorrow.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this off my chest. I know I was dumb and very likely could have done this much better and not fallen for it.

EDIT: The transaction screenshot has his account number as well, if it's real.

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Comments

  • Unorthodox on 21/12/2020 - 16:04
    +4

    Hindsight is 20/20. You've read all the instances of dodgy transfer receipts and screenshots.

    There are enough 24/7 locations with ATMs or even going into a police station foyer to exchange the goods and money.

  • pat25d on 21/12/2020 - 16:05
    +4

    Scam - 100%. Odd he even gave you 15% cash but maybe that's a new twist.

    I was taken the same way - they can either reverse or cancel the transfer, or in my case just take a screenshot before actually confirming the transfer.

    Girl ended up being caught and sentenced for fraud - still haven't got my money back though.

    • ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 16:07

      What are the steps you took for reporting it? Wondering if I could do anything with the photo if it actually happens. I can actually make out his face with the photo I have.

      • pat25d on 21/12/2020 - 16:08
        +1

        My idiot fraudster (although she got me so I'm a bigger idiot) used her personal mobile number to send me messages, and did the same to others.

        Lodged a proper police report at my local police station with all the screenshots from Gumtree/SMS etc.

        They quickly found her via the mobile number and bank account details but then took 6-12 months for the case to finally hit court.

        • tajid on 21/12/2020 - 16:47

          And what happened after the court?

          I got scammed here and it went to court over 2 years ago, no dime yet. I was told to lodge another civil case against the person but too much hassle during COVID + additional fee & paperwork with no guarantee.

  • Earl of Lemongrab on 21/12/2020 - 16:07

    Do a google search on the blokes name. Does he pop up anywhere else? Linkedin or any websites?

    • ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 16:10

      Did a reverse image search and name search nothing pops up unfortunately, doesn't seem like it's his real last name either.

  • crashloaded on 21/12/2020 - 16:10

    Could be still processing?

    • ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 16:11
      +1

      Yeah thats the optimistic me thinking, very hopefully.

      • crashloaded on 21/12/2020 - 16:15
        +1

        Depends if they were using a legit website or app in front of you I guess. I'd also keep an eye on it going back up for sale.

      • tajid on 21/12/2020 - 16:47
        +1

        St George App is OSKO btw.

        It could be real receipt but they called to cancel the transaction.

    • Ocker on 21/12/2020 - 16:21

      If transfer was made over the weekend then it should have been processed in the first inter-bank payment batch run this morning.

    • inventel on 21/12/2020 - 16:36

      I've found St George to be incredibly slow with transfers to and from other banks, so whilst that's just a single anecdote based on my own experience, in my view this is quite plausible. Granted, I'm not saying it's not a scam since the sudden removal of the FB profile does raise questions.

    • inventel on 21/12/2020 - 16:44
      +4

      I just checked St George and they do allow outbound Osko payments, given that and the sudden removal of the profile then I'd say it is a scam.

  • Ughhh on 21/12/2020 - 16:11
    +4

    At least you have his home address, so you can pay him a visit?

    People dont' say 'cash on pickup' for no reason.

    • pat25d on 21/12/2020 - 16:12

      Good point - although in my experience I guess they met you out the front? Which means it wasn't even their house and they just picked a random address.

      • ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 16:14

        Yep correct, said he worked as a bartender and just sent me a random car park address - saying he'll get off work early. Lucky I didn't get stabbed or something. I looked up afterwards and there weren't even any bars nearby.

        • pat25d on 21/12/2020 - 16:19
          +6

          Yep - so sorry to say but I'm sure it was a scam.

          If it makes you feel any better - it happens to the best of us.

          Expensive lesson to learn but you'll be more cautious next time.

          Mind sharing the item and $$$?

          • sween64 on 22/12/2020 - 08:43

            @pat25d: I’ve bought in a car park before. But I chose a somewhat busy one, during the day and possibly with CCTV to protect myself.

            I’ve also chosen to sell in a car park but similarly that was at McDonald’s during a busy period.

      • Ughhh on 21/12/2020 - 16:16

        Hopefully the buyer was dumb enough to use his real home address. Op went into this transaction completely blind.

  • fredz0r on 21/12/2020 - 16:47
    +2

    St George has Osko.

  • brendanm on 21/12/2020 - 17:18
    +1

    As others have said, I can also confirm st George have osko in the app, and the app works perfectly fine.

    • ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 17:20

      https://www.stgeorge.com.au/online-services/ways-to-pay/new-…

      This part:
      * These accounts are only eligible for inward Osko payments i.e. you can only receive Osko payments to these accounts; you can't make Osko payments from these accounts.

      • inventel on 21/12/2020 - 17:53

        You said he paid from a Complete Freedom account, which doesn't have an asterisk next to it. It is eligible for outbound Osko payments.

        That definitely sucks 😔

        • ProdigyInspired on 21/12/2020 - 17:54

          Ah thats my bad then, oversight on my part. Gave him the benefit of the doubt since when he sent the screenshot at first it was blurry.

      • brendanm on 21/12/2020 - 18:26

        I'm pretty sure those with the asterisk can't do any outbound transfers full stop, they can only transfer between st George accounts.

  • asun88 on 21/12/2020 - 17:32

    Transfers made on the weekend will be processed Monday night and cleared on Tuesday. If you do not get your funds by tomorrow night then yes you have been scammed. There is still a slim hope but not looking good…..

  • stratbargain on 21/12/2020 - 17:35
    +1

    I sometimes enable my facebook account to purchase stuff on marketplace and deactivate it straight after. Not a scammer, just don't want to have a live profile…

    • Yummy on 21/12/2020 - 17:46

      In my experience with FBM, it usually scammers or time waster/trolls.

      Cash is king still.
      Anything else, put it all on Black, and cross your fingers.

  • thatonethere on 21/12/2020 - 17:55

    Make a new account or ask a friend to see if their account is still active.

    As others have said there is a faint glimmer of hope you may get paid on Tuesday

  • garetz on 21/12/2020 - 18:01
    +5

    Not possible, definitely.

    how many times do people have to say it, only deal in cash, especially in face to face situations.

  • Blue Cat on 21/12/2020 - 18:16
    +4

    Considering you have been a registered memeber since 2014, you must surely seen the countless CASH IN HAND OR DON'T BOTHER advices when selling on Gumtree or FB Marketplace.

    You didn't take cash, this is 100% your fault.

  • Randxyz123 on 21/12/2020 - 18:42

    I asked to do it by Osko but he wasn't able to as the bank he was with did not allow outgoing Osko, only incoming payments

    Is that really a thing? How about beem it?

    As others have said you’ve clearly been scammed. Deleting his profile was incredibly suspicious as his his BS claims about apps not working, inbound payments only etc.

    I know on the CBA app you could “schedule” the transfer but the receipt wouldn’t show it was scheduled. I suspect that is what has happened.

    Call westpac and your bank and see if they can assist. But I think this will be a live and learn situation.

    • tajid on 21/12/2020 - 19:15

      That is a thing with Macquarie Bank I believe.

  • Seraphin7 on 21/12/2020 - 18:51

    If it's legit, it may genuinely take up until overnight tonight to go through.

    Likely a scam … you'll know for sure in the morning … money will either be there or it won't.

  • pharkurnell on 21/12/2020 - 19:48
    +1

    Cash is always worth waiting for.

  • Cave Fire on 21/12/2020 - 21:32
    +1

    Have you spent the notes? probably want to hold on to them/check that they are real. Cops may take a report if the item value is high. Also if the notes are fake, then they may take more interest. Crazy to think that this person could do this every week and not get caught.

    • gbarlett on 22/12/2020 - 07:39

      "Crazy to think that this person could do this every week and not get caught."
      why would you think that when the world is full of idiots ripe for the picking.

      • Cave Fire on 22/12/2020 - 10:38

        More like the police stop looking for them. I am guessing if a few different people showed his photo, then they might look for him.

  • Ash-Say on 21/12/2020 - 22:08

    St George Osko is funny. It will go to ANZ but don't recognise Heritage Bank.

  • sween64 on 22/12/2020 - 08:47

    Cash only. Exchange in a public place with witnesses and/or CCTV if possible. Make sure the cash is real.

    • TilacVIP on 22/12/2020 - 08:56
      +4

      Yeah, that's all good and dandy if you're the seller, how as a buyer, I'd like to go to the seller's place & if possible see the item working. The moment they say to meet in a public place, its goodbye!!!!

      • sween64 on 22/12/2020 - 08:59

        Depends on the item. A mobile phone can be tested in a public place. A PS4 can not. If you ask to see the item working I might provide a video or if you ask nicely I might let you in to my home. Don’t just cut me out!

  • sween64 on 22/12/2020 - 08:52
    +3

    I’m a member of a local Swap/Buy group on FB. There was a post warning others of the scam involving screenshots of a scheduled transfer that never gets completed. I commented that cash is always best and people on there argued with me that bank transfers are better and that they can’t be reversed. You can’t help some people.

  • TilacVIP on 22/12/2020 - 08:53
    +3

    Rule number 1 - Do not give them the product until you see the cash in your account if its not a cash transaction.
    Rule number 2 - Never forget rule umber 1.

    With all the scams in the world people need to stop being stupid!!!!

  • OzHunterNSW on 22/12/2020 - 10:32
    +1

    This is the oldest trick in the book… sending screen shots of payment….but somehow… you do not have the funds.

    Wake up… wake up… hello…. hello

  • mhz on 22/12/2020 - 12:06

    Cash is king. If you are meeting up face to face, always deal with cash. No bank transfers!

  • eggles01 on 22/12/2020 - 12:49

    when are idiots going to learn that you do not sell and give the item to the buyer unless you have the money in your hand,
    try looking for him on instagram a friend of mine is on instagram and every thing she puts on that goes also to facebook, it may also work vice versa the opposite.
    if you have his address go to the police and make a statement with them and give them the address where you drove to.

  • loulou1 on 22/12/2020 - 17:12
    +1

    So, did you get the money?

    • ProdigyInspired on 23/12/2020 - 02:56

      Think its gone. Lesson learnt. Not sure what to do now and if its worth the effort going to the police to get my money back.

      This is what I have: a low resolution photo of him, his account number from the screenshot given to me, full chat log between me and him, still have the cash as well. His facebook seems to have blocked and deleted me, but I can find the old account albeit no details on it.

      For those talking about the address, it was a private car park next to a church, not too sure if there are CCTV.

      • loulou1 on 23/12/2020 - 07:46

        I am sorry this happened to you

        • ProdigyInspired on 23/12/2020 - 15:35

          It's unfortunate but mostly my fault. I'm still curious if I could do something with the bank account number he gave me and track him down possibly. Screenshot doesn't seem faked, just that the bank transfer was reversed.

          • cheaplee on 23/12/2020 - 20:04

            @ProdigyInspired: You couldn't, but if you filed a police report I'm sure they could identify the owner of the bank account easily enough. Whether that is your scammer or not, who knows! At least you have a photo you could also give them.

            I don't know what kind of proof you would need. Could he just say you didn't meet after all?

          • tajid on 23/12/2020 - 22:05

            @ProdigyInspired: You can try. From my experience, they would not take the case seriously as it's partly online related and of a 'small' amount? They would just put it as 'civil' case.

            Unless others have reported the same person.

      • thatonethere on 23/12/2020 - 08:12

        Just put out a calm post on the local Facebook marketplace group looking for the guy to "complete the transaction". At least others will be warned…

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