Is Your Social Media Marketplace Buyer a Scammer? Find Out How to Protect Yourself Now!

Due to the high number of incidents logged over the weekend, Lancashire Constabulary are warning about a scam being used by criminals to take money from people selling goods over social media websites.

Criminals are using a fake banking phone app which makes it look like money has been transferred into the victim's account when in fact it hasn’t. 

When a meeting takes place to hand over the item being sold (ironically which victims do thinking it’s safer), the victim puts their bank details into a fake banking app on the criminal’s phone. It then produces a screen which makes it appear that the money has been successfully transferred.  But when the victim then checks their account, they find that the funds haven’t transferred. 

The criminal then pretends to call his bank saying that it takes up to two hours for the funds to show, but the money is never received by the victim. 

Police are alerting people in Lancashire to the fake bank transfer phone app after an increase in incidents involving people selling goods on social media ‘marketplace’ type sites.

Officers from Lancashire’s Economic Crime Unit have issued the following tips to ensure people don’t fall victim to the scam:

DO:

Check the buyer’s review history and feedback from other reviewers. Beware of accounts that may have been set up very recently with lots of favourable feedback that sounds similar, this could be an indication of fake reviews.

Always use the site’s recommended payment site (such as PayPal) and read the terms and conditions to understand what you are protected for.  If you pay any other way than via a recommended payment site, you may not be able to recover your money.

If you make payments in cash, consider carrying this out at yours or the seller’s bank premises for added protection. 

Avoid direct bank transfers where possible.  Use known third party payment providers after checking terms and conditions.

If payment is made via bank transfer, always check with your own bank if any payment is shown pending.

DON’T: 

Allow buyer to change the original agreed meeting place.

Hand over any goods until money is confirmed in your account.

Allow the buyer to rush you to persuade you that payment has been made.

Please report all fraud to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 or online actionfraud.police.uk

You can make a non-urgent report to Lancashire Police by calling us on 101 or online at https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk

Stay vigilant.