Not had money transfer after sending goods

SJC_WILTSHIRE

Right I need to know if there is anything I can do to get my money! I sold an item on Marketplace please she wanted it sending by mail and said she'd send me a bank transfer.  I did the usual searches to make sure no one had flagged her etc and it all seemed ligament.  But after agreeing to the sale and organising collection I know realise I shouldn't have posted until I had received payment. After much chasing today I get an email from the bank she has used (FBN Bank UK plc) saying the following:

You will have to make a surcharge payment of £105.00 GBP to the account officer in charge of your transaction. In addition to your AVAILABLE FUNDS of £395.00 GBP in line to make your funds meet the minimum international standard of £500.00 GBP

NOTE: GO TO NEAREST STORE TO BUY GIFTS CARD WORTH £105.00GBP AND SEND THE CARD WITH THE RECEIPT BACK TO US.

Am I right in thinking this is a scam to just get even more money out of me? Please help

knightstyle

100% SCAM  Never buy gift cards etc. and send pics as then they can use them and you loose again!

soolin

Yep 100% scam - your goods have gone and you have no hope of ever seeing any money. 

Never send anything without being paid first, and please read up on basic safety and scams online before you sell anything else. 

sparklep0ny

You'll probably end up with your bank account being closed too, and a CIFAS marker.

I swear I don't know how people can be so devoid of common sense.

cymruchris

There's nothing practical you can do to recover your money and your goods are long gone. Don't now fall for the scam of 'pay a fee' to get your money. What was the value of the goods involved? The chances are that wherever you sent the item will either be a multiple occupation house, or was intercepted at point of delivery - and the likelihood of you finding the actual individual is slim. As you say - you shouldn't have sent it until you received the real payment (and not some scam bank email). 

elsien

Nigeria and scam have been synonymous for a long time. As have fake/hijacked FB profiles. There isn’t a way on Facebook marketplace to tell if someone is legitimate, however many searches you do.
If I use it, it’s cash on collection only. 
Your money is long gone; don’t send any more. 

Bradden

Is there no protection available for the OP from the selling platform it was listed on? eg. Amazon or Ebay...

soolin

Bradden said:

Is there no protection available for the OP from the selling platform it was listed on? eg. Amazon or Ebay...

The OP says marketplace which is facebook. However I can't see how any site, ebay or Amazon included can indemnify someone who falls for so blatant a scam.  Most sites, marketplace included (although Marketplace in the US is different I am assuming this is a UK sale) expect sellers and buyers to use proper payment channels , with ebay and Amazon this is more automated although people still decide to try and work outside the safe area. With marketplace in the UK it is basically just a venue , facebook don't offer any payment assistance but do warn against these common scams.

Bradden

Thanks... I must have missed the bit where they said they sold on FB... something I've learned to avoid having read numerous threads here about problems.  I assumed that if they had sold through ebay or amazon where they would have protection.. but you are right that they would have to use approved payment methods which I guess doesn't include bank transfers after the goods have been sent.. or not!

Archergirl

I feel for you, it's so easy to be trusting but we must not trust anyone now. I hope you didn't lose too much money. You could put their name and profile pic on the site and see if anyone else has been scammed, but they do change these often xx