Help lost money on fictional tickets!

fionab36

Just looking for some advice really. My other half sent some money via a bank transfer to someone for concert tickets. The tickets were then supposidly sent by special delivery, that was over a week ago and they have never arrived. The concert has been and gone and the person still hasn't refunded the money what do we do? We have a name, address and phone number, I say we should report it to the police but my hubby thinks there is no point, they won't be able to do anything. Any thoughts????

shaun_from_Africa

It's unlikely that you will get anything back, but if you don't try then it's certain that you won't.

The police won't be too interested if it's a one off incident, but if they have received lots of reports about the same seller, then they might be prepared to take it further.

wealdroam

OP, what did the seller say when you phoned him?

unholyangel

If they were sent special delivery they should be able to recover the costs from royal mail, but they should be issuing you a refund.

I would try and resolve it with them first, if they're taking the mickey or you think they're being dishonest, then try different tacts.

joess

Has the seller provided you with the special delivery tracking number?

bap98189

You have I am afraid more than likely been scammed. I would be willing to bet that the name and address you have are fake and that the number is a mobile.

You can report it to the police if you like, but they will most likely not be interested. There is no way to trace someone from just a mobile phone number. The best option for tracing them is the bank account number to which you sent the money, but I would expect it will be located overseas.

agrinnall

bap98189 wrote: »

You have I am afraid more than likely been scammed. I would be willing to bet that the name and address you have are fake and that the number is a mobile.

You can report it to the police if you like, but they will most likely not be interested. There is no way to trace someone from just a mobile phone number. The best option for tracing them is the bank account number to which you sent the money, but I would expect it will be located overseas.

If it's based overseas then the OP would have had to make (and pay for) a SWIFT payment, as that hasn't been mentioned I doubt very much if it is the case. I would definitely take this up with your bank, they will probably resist as you made the transfer yourself but if you don't try you won't get anything.

pinkshoes

If you have the name, address and phone number then:

1. Try phoning the number
2. Look on 192.com or similar to see if you can find any match for the name and the address
3. Use google earth to see if the address actually exists.

The payment by bank transfer should have set alarm bells ringing.

JimmyTheWig

If you can find them then you should be able to get your money back via small claims court.
But I doubt that the address is real.

Could the bank be forced (by small claims court, etc) to hand over the contact details from the account number?