International Bank Transfer Scam

IR10

Hello all,

To start, I appreciate that in life 'you can't expect to receive if you're not willing to give' and as a new member of this forum, I am yet to contribute. But I ask sincerely, if you could take the time to read about my case and offer any advice, it really would be greatly appreciated.

An account of the situation
I was selling some trainers on an app called Depop (think of it like another eBay) where the buyer, based in Ireland, told me to message him on WhatsApp as it wasn't letting him purchase through the app. We agreed he would transfer me the money and then I would post the product. He told me to go to the Post Office and send a picture and he would then send the payment. Once I had done this, he made me aware that international payments would take 1-3 days, frustrated from having had to wait outside the Post Office for more than 20mins I did not do proper due diligence to check the details surrounding this. He then sent a screenshot and video of the payment page. I asked him to send a video where he refreshed the payment page which he did, and to this end I thought it was genuine and thus sent off the package. After 5 days had passed I contacted him again through WhatsApp to ask where the payment was, he said he would check after work. He has since stopped responding, he has also seemingly uninstalled WhatsApp and the number is no longer active.

The value of the item was £135, which I know isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things – but as a student with bills to pay, it is a lot to me so I want to try and get my money back. When the transfer took place he asked for my sort code and account number, to which I responded with my Monzo account details. Upon realisation that this was probably a scam I immediately contacted Monzo to no avail - they told me they could not do anything despite two separate representatives of Bank of Ireland (the buyer's bank) telling me I had to pursue lines of inquiry via my bank. I also tried to contact Action Fraud but as I'm sure many will appreciate, this was also a useless exercise. Which brings me to this post - what can I do?

I have the buyer's address, a presumably fake alias name, inactive phone number and presumably fake WhatsApp picture identity as well as a signature and (potentially fake) name from whoever signed for the delivery. Would it be possible to file a claim with the European Small Claims court under this? If not, what else can I really do?

Best,
Ishaq

user1977

You'll need to find out who they really are before you can sue them. What's the point of starting a case against a name if you think it's fake?

Sandtree

You can attempt an international law suit but if you believe the details provided are no genuine you are simply adding to your losses.

It is more likely one to chalk up to experience and realise why companies ask for payment before goods are sent (though even that isnt fool proof)

Aylesbury_Duck

To stand any chance of success you're going to have to put in some detective work.  You have a recipient address, but even that might be nothing to do with the buyer, he's probably had the parcel sent to an entirely innocent party who he believes will fall for some mis-delivery story and hand over the parcel, or the recipient is an accomplice.

I think it'll be a wild goose chase, because you have almost nothing to go on.  

Caz3121

There was a recent thread here re fake bank apps - where it appears that a payment is being made but it isn't (horrible that people can steal like this)
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6279389/prank-bank-app-scam/p1

JJ_Egan

(European Small Claims court )

Better ROI small claims court if possible .

But as said you cannot sue nobody ,wrong address .