I Just Got Scammed $1100 by Buying a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from Facebook Marketplace

meong on 18/03/2025 - 21:23
Last edited 19/03/2025 - 17:37 by 2 other users

Met someone on Facebook at the park, paid cash.

Person in Facebook profile doesn't match.

Obviously catfished, but it was not obvious to me at the time because:

Box was sealed. It has matching IMEIs on the box, on the phone software, and I was even able to add the phone's IMEI to my Samsung account page. It came with a very legit looking receipt from JB Hi-Fi.

But everything else about the phone was all wrong until I started to play around with it.

It's slow, chimes and icons are weird even though it said it has OneUI 7. Phone doesn't support wireless charging or fast charging.

It was an S25 Ultra.

Camera lenses were fake. Like when you zoom it is obvious it's a digital zoom. Only one lens was ever active (you cover the lens to see if it switches to the other lens when zooming).

Went to two police stations to file a report. Both refused to file a report because they cannot see that the phone is fake because the IMEI matches. They have suggested me to go through JB Hi-fi or Samsung Store to verify if the phone is fake.

I won't be able to recover the money. The police are not going to catch anyone from the limited info. I really only wanted to report it, so they have it in the file somewhere to hopefully add to their knowledge that this is happening.

I'm obviously not in the right mind right now. I'm aware lessons learned. But please ask me anything about this scam. I'm happy to take photos to show how sophisticated the packaging is. It even came with a seal with a pull tab on the box.

Really, just posting for awareness. Please go easy on me, I just lost $1100.

Just adding some learnings here:

Common scams:
https://www.tiktok.com/@iskiprodz/video/7411411946626403591
https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgenant/video/7482663113255341354
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxeTXGEzI_0
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/807968
https://ibb.co/qM6q64tS
https://www.reddit.com/r/AusLegal/comments/1frzr4p/bought_fa…
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnAustralian/comments/1i76laj/fr…

There is an email address for JB Hifi Forensic Team that can help quickly identify fake receipts.

They are very responsive:
[email protected]

Some photos:
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/120458/20250318_…
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/120457/20250318_…
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/120456/20250318_…
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/120454/screensho…
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/41247/120459/20250318_…

UPDATE:

Based on this recommendation: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/16355472/redir

I have asked a few people to contact the seller who is still actively selling this.

Also, i have seen multiple listings with very similar looking receipts.

I have asked JB and the receipt that I had and the one the other sellers are selling are both FAKE.

I called Samsung, the IMEI for EUE is for a product that is made in Vietnam but sold in Austria. It is not supported for warranties in Australia.

I also send another IMEI based on another scam listing and that I added that, it appeared as legit but Samsung confirmed that it was made in South Korea but sold in China.

Mobile Mobile Phone Samsung Android

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Comments

    • meong on 19/03/2025 - 13:10

      Some people may be smarter than me by not falling for these scams. However, if the police can't even be convinced that it's fake then that means there are more victims out there.

  • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 11:16
    -4

    What can daddy government do to make our lives more orwellian and keep people like OP wrapped in cotton wool protected from Darwinism?

    • Exec-Matrix on 19/03/2025 - 11:56
      +1

      Must think you're smart with your comment

  • Fayble1212 on 19/03/2025 - 11:34
    -4

    Honestly being a tightass can be so costly, $2600 phone for $1100 and you didn't suspect something was up even though it was as sealed unit?

    LOL

    Now that phone is going to cost you a new phone + $1100 you paid - how does being a tightass now feel?

    • aputri on 19/03/2025 - 11:50
      +2

      how does being an a$$hole makes your day to day feel?

      I am just learning about this scam and appreciating OP for sharing this, despite of the stress they must've feel.
      If you can't say anything nice or kind, just hold your fingers man

      • Fayble1212 on 19/03/2025 - 12:02
        +2

        Where is the common sense? "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" - well deserved teaching moment.

        • meong on 19/03/2025 - 12:53
          +1

          there are discussions above about how $1100 may still be possible

        • belongsinforums on 19/03/2025 - 22:52

          bb b but my feelings!!

    • 6000SUX on 19/03/2025 - 12:22
      +2

      Most - if not all of us on here are tightasses.

      Your attitude stinks mate. Here is OP bearing his sole and admitting mistakes and you kick them when they are down? Nice job.

    • Raj09 on 19/03/2025 - 14:23
      +1

      Dude don't kick an injured soldier. OP is sharing with us. We all make mistakes.

    • kaybrr on 19/03/2025 - 14:37
      +1

      Even JV down-voted you, that's saying something.

  • rando88 on 19/03/2025 - 11:35
    -2

    What race / nationality did they seem? Were they Australian?

    • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 12:35
      +1

      Were they Australian?

      I doubt OP asked the conman for a birth certificate or certificate of citizenship…. I might be wrong though.

    • meong on 19/03/2025 - 14:37

      I can say the person's ethnicity was different to their FB accounts.

      Information like this can be described as profiling for the police but I cannot share here due to racial backlash.

      • Autonomic on 20/03/2025 - 01:07

        Also because it's not really relevant

  • MrThing on 19/03/2025 - 11:46

    Sounds like buying brand new would have been cheaper after all OP

    • meong on 19/03/2025 - 13:10

      Not buying anything would have been cheaper 🥲

  • trapper on 19/03/2025 - 12:48

    This is wild, jeepers

  • gromit on 19/03/2025 - 12:58

    I don't mean to rub salt into the wound however this deal had plenty of red flags that should have made you pull the plug. the first being the price,the second being meeting place and lastly the dodgy looking receipt, the receipt alone would have screamed at me there is something seriously wrong here.

    • CyberMurning on 19/03/2025 - 13:10

      Sometimes when i (assuming, will) get $2200 phone for $1100 brand new, i feel like the luckiest person in the planet and forget other things…

      • meong on 19/03/2025 - 17:59

        i suppose you successfully described how i was feeling when i made the purchase

        • CyberMurning on 19/03/2025 - 18:21

          yeah been there when i made the (low) offer and seller accepted, i was like in the 7th heaven couldnt believe it i wish i can just fly to meet and transact in that very moment in case someone else steal the deal….

  • CyberMurning on 19/03/2025 - 13:08

    Years ago….Got fake s8 from ebay biggest give away is the camera, like 480p quality.
    Lucky ebay sided with me i got full refund.
    Seller said i didnt know its fake yeah right…

    Then months ago got scammed from facebook but this is $90 nintendo ds so i just cry for 10mins and move on….

    • neoleo on 20/03/2025 - 00:00

      Make it back with another deal like PureVPN 130% cashback (almost $50) every month ;-)

  • danwylie on 19/03/2025 - 13:14

    Ah damn. The sophistication of the scam is a cut above the usual stuff you hear about. Thanks for passing on the lessons you paid for! The lure of the bargain is a weakness a few members of this website would be vulnerable to.

    • meong on 19/03/2025 - 13:30

      its also worth noting that there are multiple listings about this.

      • Emenent7426 on 19/03/2025 - 13:51

        Just out of curiosity, what is the date on your receipt right at the bottom. This is from the one i screenshot as a scam before

        Receipt No: 4820287750783
        0408245963 08421 048 21 31/02/25 12:19
        Thankyou for shopping at
        JB HIFI - Doncaster
        Please retain recept as proof of purchase

  • manbearpig on 19/03/2025 - 13:29

    Yeah, this sucks, and if I were in your shoes I'd feel the same way. I do sympathise with you in that regard. Thanks for bringing this to light as it it quite sophisticated.

    The biggest red flag that would've made me suspicious though was the price and the fact that it was on Facebook Marketplace.

    Why would someone sell a phone for $1100 they bought a month ago for $2700? If it sounds too good to be true, well, you know the rest. These are questions you just can't turn a blind eye to.

    Try to look at the positives in life though, as hard as it may be. Be thankful it was $1100 and not more, or even worse, your life, as those things happen too.

  • ttt888 on 19/03/2025 - 13:38

    Thank you for sharing.

  • Ace26 on 19/03/2025 - 15:02

    Man that sucks, but thanks for this post, I almost fell for a used apple watch ultra on marketplace, I wont bother with it now

    • Rukiata on 19/03/2025 - 15:07

      lol thats way diff then op. thats most likely real. not every ad is fake.

  • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 15:17
    +1

    A few people saying this is "sophisticated". It sounds like just a good bad old fashioned counterfeit scam, albeit with good execution. Instead of fake Nikes or YSL handbags it's mobile phones.

    Sorry to hear this happened to you, @meong.
    I would advise you log out of the device and then, using a different trusted device, change any passwords of any accounts you signed into on the counterfeit device. It's possible the scammers may be trying to steal login details to steal even more from you. If you haven't done so already.

    • meong on 19/03/2025 - 15:21

      Luckily I haven't signed into any account. Only Wifi so far.

      • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 15:28

        Change your wifi password.

        What Can Hackers Do
        If hackers connect to your Wi-Fi, they can perform several malicious activities. They can conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, which involve intercepting and possibly altering data transmitted across the network.
        Hackers can also use your internet connection for their own purposes, such as downloading large files or engaging in illegal activities.
        Moreover, they can gain access to and control some of your internet-connected devices, like smart TVs or Chromecasts.
        In more advanced scenarios, hackers can attempt to brute force the router's admin password, allowing them to take control of the router itself.
        Once they have control of the router, they can redirect all your internet traffic to a malicious DNS server, which can steal your information and install malware on your devices.
        If a hacker has your Wi-Fi password and IP address, they could potentially log into your router and redirect DNS traffic, monitor the sites you request, and open ports to allow them to connect even if your IP changes.
        They might also perform ARP spoofing, tricking your computer into thinking their computer is the router and redirecting traffic through their PC to inspect packets.
        This can lead to the theft of unencrypted data in plain text.
        To protect yourself, it's important to change your router's default username and password, update the firmware regularly, and use strong, unique passwords for your Wi-Fi network.
        Additionally, setting up a guest network can help segment traffic and reduce the risk of a full network breach.

        • AwesomeAndrew on 19/03/2025 - 18:14
          +1

          This is most likely unnecessary and overly paranoid.
          If someone wanted to hack your wifi, they would need to be physically near your house. Even once they get into your wifi, the most that they would be able to do is redirect and capture traffic, however most traffic nowadays is encrypted therefore this would be mostly useless.
          If a hacker really wanted to brute force your router admin password, they'd have to stay near your house for a few days trying. If they're willing to go through that, they would be able to brute force your wifi password as well, which is likely much easier as WPA2 can be brute forced offline while router admin password needs to be bruted forced online.
          The only reason you may actually want to change your wifi password is if you run services on LAN which do not require additional authentication. Hackers knowing your wifi password can easily get into those.

          • modbutcher on 19/03/2025 - 22:25

            @AwesomeAndrew: You don’t need to be right next to the house to get a good signal. Just get a high gain directional antenna paired with a Wi-Fi scanner, and you’ll be able to capture signals from a distance. And you can redirect the signal by building a mesh network to extend the Wi-Fi coverage over long distances.

  • us3rnam3tak3n on 19/03/2025 - 15:58
    +2

    If ever there was a post deserving of "bikies" as a response this is it.

    If you want to do it more legitimately, set up a sting, photograph the perpetrator and get their car rego. Take some backup, maybe follow them home.

    • Raj09 on 19/03/2025 - 17:17

      Yep. It's true. Forget the police. They will not do anything. Give the scammers a taste of their own medicine. Break their knees and make them learn the lesson

  • OhNoUShiz on 19/03/2025 - 20:02

    Expensive lesson to learn. What if you found out it was a scam during the deal, you might be stabbed and robbed.

  • porleng on 19/03/2025 - 20:13

    The box says 16GB which is a red flag, it only comes in 12GB RAM. 🔍

    • Crimzic on 19/03/2025 - 20:48

      In Australia. Some other countries got 16 GB variant (e.g China).

  • movieman on 19/03/2025 - 21:22

    Probably not ideal, but who's name is the receipt in?

    Can you claim TRS if you fly out in the next month or so?

  • H3R34TH4C0MM3NTS on 19/03/2025 - 21:43
    -5

    Sorry Bro, firstly I have very little empathy for stories like this firstly because every part of this transaction you had control over, you tried to be a cheap skate and took shortcuts which ended up not being so short, secondly you thought transacting several 100 bucks on FB market place was a good idea.
    Trust and Authenticity cost money , thats why the legitimate retailers are more expensive. FB provides no guarantees or assurances on trust or authenticity of either buyer or seller so you have learnt a valuable lesson. If you get done over on FB marketplace thats on you don't use the platform to trade items of significant value.

    Now cut your losses and buy from a legitimate retailer.

  • ribze1 on 19/03/2025 - 21:53
    -3

    Why would someone be selling a brand new phone? That's mistake number one. And if you want a flagship phone then (profanity) pay for it.

  • Mysterious Laptop on 19/03/2025 - 22:58

    As they say, cheaper is more expensive..

  • Kelpei on 20/03/2025 - 00:05

    Just noticed something….
    The TAC (first 8 digits of IMEI number) indicates the device manufacturer and model number. The TAC should be the same for dual Sim phones. Upon checking the TAC's printed on the outside of your box, it's clear they are very different.

    Second, if it's a device destined for the AU market then it should have the bands necessary for operation here. I entered the IMEI of your device here and it tells me a freshly released flagship device won't work in Australia post 3G shutdown. Sure it could be an S25 variant destined for another market but the seller claims he bought this from JB HI FI.

    Just some things to consider for anyone else looking at buying a phone off online marketplaces.

  • hopper on 20/03/2025 - 00:38

    in 2017 a friend of mine bought a used samsung note 5 from facebook, soon he realised its not the original hardware and software and inbuilt s pen never worked. So i decided never buy something from facebook that is more than $99.

  • Michaelangelo on 20/03/2025 - 02:48

    While unfortunate that you were scammed.
    I appreciate the length you have gone to inform others about the scam and how to avoid.

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