Company Reg No?

SallyUK

Hmm, the mystery deepens then!

I think I've been scammed - in fact, I'm pretty certain I am now.

I had a response to an advert whereby I posted that I was looking for a certain type of phone.

The chap replied by sending me a text and gave me several very fathomable excuses as to what he had, and what he was selling etc.

He said he had 2 of the phones that I wanted, both new, unlocked, sealed etc and they had been ordered for rep phones, but the reps had wanted to stick with their current phone. He said he'd let me have them at a reduced rate and I could pay half now, then once I'd received them, I could send the other half of what was owing.

He gave me the name of the person, their bank name, bank account number, bank sort code, acct no, company vat registration number, email address, Personal Agent No. So I sent the first half of the money. This was Thursday evening.

I have hundreds of text messages from him, saying things like, ok goods now given to UPS, gave me time for delivery (which was this morning, needless to say no good arrived) - I kept asking for an email confirming receipt of money, and asked him for screenshot, tracking numbers etc, but still nothing sent from computer. Only texts.

He kept on with the very good reasons for selling and then I asked him if he happened to have an iPhone too, as it was my daughter's birthday - he said yes, I could have that too at a reduced cost and that could be added to my order - again I paid half the cost of that. He asked me to send payment for this to a different name. (Apparently, this person was the apple rep) - so I sent the money to this other chap's name, acct number, bank sort code and this time it was Barclays. He then went on to say that this chap had another couple of items which were for sale too, and to which I agreed to purchase.

(I don't want to mention what the goods are exactly, as he said he had alerts set up, so he knew when people were looking for them and he could contact them)

He gave me the website address too which was for the one I just mentioned above.

So I'm totally confused now - why would he keep texting and keep in touch when there's obviously no goods coming?

The phone I wanted was for my son, who has Asperger's, and who had his phone stolen recently, the other one I was going to sell and try and make some money from it, and the iPhone was for my daughter's birthday, which she won't get now.

So, totally out of pocket thanks to this scumbag.

Any help would be appreciated, even though I've been a stupid cow.

Sal

agrinnall

Do you actually have a name and address for the seller? Because the only way you're going to get your money back is through the small claims court, and you have to know who to claim from.

Although I must say I find it rather hard to believe that you carried on buying more things even after the first ones hadn't turned up - I guess we won't be as hard on you as you'll be on yourself.

LilElvis

SallyUK wrote: »

So I'm totally confused now - why would he keep texting and keep in touch when there's obviously no goods coming?

That's easy to answer. It's because you have fallen for his spiel three times now - 2 phones, an iPhone and some other stuff. Of course he is going to keep in contact and stringing you along - he thinks he has found the goose that lays the golden eggs!

How did you start this contact with him? What details do you have other than his mobile number?

visidigi

LilElvis wrote: »

That's easy to answer. It's because you have fallen for his spiel three times now - 2 phones, an iPhone and some other stuff. Of course he is going to keep in contact and stringing you along - he thinks he has found the goose that lays the golden eggs!

How did you start this contact with him? What details do you have other than his mobile number?

Yep, thats what's happened.

Time to start gathering the info you have and reporting it.

SallyUK

I know, I'm already battering myself as it is.

I have his mobile number, the (alleged website) as above - the email addresses (one bounces) and all the bank account info.

That's all I have at the moment.

Sal
x

SallyUK

They were all to be in the same parcel.

Sal
x

agrinnall wrote: »

Do you actually have a name and address for the seller? Because the only way you're going to get your money back is through the small claims court, and you have to know who to claim from.

Although I must say I find it rather hard to believe that you carried on buying more things even after the first ones hadn't turned up - I guess we won't be as hard on you as you'll be on yourself.

wealdroam

OP, report all this to Action Fraud.

Nodding_Donkey

This has to be a windup.

OP have you never heard the saying 'Once bitten, twice shy'

SallyUK

It is no wind up.

As I said before, all the items were to come out in the one order. I didn't order them all at different times.

If I could copy the hundreds of texts on here, you too would see just how fathomable they were.

Sal

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

This has to be a windup.

OP have you never heard the saying 'Once bitten, twice shy'

LilElvis

How did you find this person in the first place? Ebay, Facebook, Gumtree?