Iphone 3GS Scam

pw2989

Hi Guys, I know I have been very stupid but I have been reeled in by a scammer.

He listed an Iphone 3GS on Gumtree for sale. I emailed him and he said he would prefer to meet face to face, cash in hand and exchange that way. Unfortunately he lived too far away. This stupidly made me trust him, I thought he was genuine and really had the IPhone as he was prepared to exchange face to face. He also provided me a link to the O2 website with the serial number of the phone, which I later found out wasn't a serial number on a phone in his possesion.

I transferred "250 by bank transfer from my Co-operative Bank account to his Lloyds TSB bank account. He completely ignored me after the transfer. I only have his email address and Lloyds TSB Bank account details. He provided me with a telephone number which I later found out was the wrong number.

I called my Bank (Co-operative) and as expected there was nothing they could do. They told me to ring the police which I did, and I have an appointment to go into the police station tonight.

I know that I have been very naive and stupid getting scammed like this, but I am wondering if anybody has and advice at all that could help me get my money back, and to also stop this scammer. I know it's probably going to be next to impossible in getting my money back though.

Would Lloyds TSB be able to somehow track this scammer through his bank details?

Thanks in advance,
Pia

finlay666

pw2989 wrote: »

I only have his email address and Lloyds TSB Bank account details.

Set up direct debits in his name to charity

Have you searched the email on Facebook etc to see if they were stupid enough to sign up with the same email? You would be surprised how many do

nsabournemouth

DO NOT EVER BUY ANYTHING FROM ANYONE ON SCUMTREE!!!

If you have his bank details the Police should be able to do something and it might be worth getting in touch with Gumtree via their website.

if you have the emails show them to the Police

undetterred

Got some magic beans here,wanna buy em.

pw2989

Thanks for your input.

He hasn't signed up to facebook with that email address, nothing comes up when I search in Google.

I went to the Police Station and they basically said they can't do anything! Lloyds TSB wouldn't give the police the scammers details because of data protection and its only £250. The advert on Gumtree had been viewed by over 100 people, so it scares me to think how many more he has scammed.

I stupidly got reeled in because he said he would prefer to meet with cash in hand. I don't understand that bit.

Looks like I've hit a dead end.

Thanks.

watcherman

pw2989 wrote: »

I went to the Police Station and they basically said they can't do anything!
.

That is completely untrue....Go back and tell them you want to make an allegation of crime, you understand they are obliged under the National Crime Reporting Standards to take your report as the first point of contact.

If they refuse, ask to see the PACE Inspector on duty, and tell them you want to make a complaint against the individual refusing to record your allegation of crime.

The amount is irrelevant, as you'd find out if you went and shop lifted £250 worth of goods!


3. Duty of Police to take a report.
Under Home Office “National Crime Recording Standard” [note 6], The first Police officer or member of Police Staff empowered to do so should take a report. In practice, a report should be made to the local Police Station; this could be in person or by phone. This should be taken as a “Crime report”, unless there is “credible evidence to the contrary”. Make a note of the crime reference number and details of the officer taking the report.


With many Fraud offences, the exact location of the offender cannot be proved at the time of taking a report. If this is the case, the Home Office “Counting Rules” [note 7] state that the location of the offence is the location of the victim, and therefore it is the responsibility of the Police that cover the victim’s address to report the crime and carry out an investigation.

yehehehes

write a letter to him requesting the phone or your money back. tell him u have been to see the police.

put this letter in a stamped sealed envelope and submit it to his bank along with his bank details and ask them to post it off to him.

this doesn't contravene any data protection laws as they aren't sharing any info with u, so they should do it.

hopefully once he gets the mail, he'll realize he can be tracked and refund u or send over the phone.

makavelianz

Its amazing how many times i have reported these iphone scams to gumtree, good thing about it they take it off right away if the ad has been posted that day.,. OP you cannot get a 3gs under £350 regardless if it is second hand.

makavelianz

pw2989 wrote: »

I stupidly got reeled in because he said he would prefer to meet with cash in hand. I don't understand that bit.

Looks like I've hit a dead end.

Thanks.

Easy to say i prefer metting up when your 400 miles away, never was going to happen..

robpiggott

watcherman wrote: »

That is completely untrue....Go back and tell them you want to make an allegation of crime, you understand they are obliged under the National Crime Reporting Standards to take your report as the first point of contact.

If they refuse, ask to see the PACE Inspector on duty, and tell them you want to make a complaint against the individual refusing to record your allegation of crime.

The amount is irrelevant, as you'd find out if you went and shop lifted £250 worth of goods!


3. Duty of Police to take a report.
Under Home Office “National Crime Recording Standard” [note 6], The first Police officer or member of Police Staff empowered to do so should take a report. In practice, a report should be made to the local Police Station; this could be in person or by phone. This should be taken as a “Crime report”, unless there is “credible evidence to the contrary”. Make a note of the crime reference number and details of the officer taking the report.


With many Fraud offences, the exact location of the offender cannot be proved at the time of taking a report. If this is the case, the Home Office “Counting Rules” [note 7] state that the location of the offence is the location of the victim, and therefore it is the responsibility of the Police that cover the victim’s address to report the crime and carry out an investigation.

All the cr*p above is not really relevant. But this person is right that you maybe able to obtain a crime number. It would depend on when the transaction took place and how long it has been since you were supposed to receive it, after all this is just a simple transaction. It maybe that they will provide you with a crime number but not investigate it as there are other priorities. Not all crime reported will have an investigation. To be blunt you have made a hugh mistake is using that word TRUST when dealing over the internet.
I would suggest that you call the police and register your crime that way. Its much easier over the phone as the front office staff are usually very busy and will fob you off with any old garbage. Just done expect it to be investigated.
Cheers.

watcherman

robpiggott wrote: »

All the cr*p above is not really relevant.

Unfortunately Rob what you wrote is obviously relevant in your opinion, though completely untrue.

If you have been fobbed off in the past, then so be it, but the OP needs to take a firm hand and press for a investigation, there is a line of investigation to follow here, and should not therefore be screened out.