Facebook scam.
A Cambridge man who sold an iPhone on the online Marketplace discovered the buyer has cancelled the $1450 payment he agreed to make.
Dawei Wang
“I verified the bank account name, account number, and the amount, but I didn’t realise it was a scheduled payment until he was gone,” Dawei Wang said.
It is understood police caught the buyer, who was using a fake profile, doing the same thing in Auckland and a 21-year-old man is now before the courts.
Wang, who has not received his phone or payment for it, will now insist on cash, or a verified bank transfer, before he hands over any future goods to buyers.
Netsafe, New Zealand’s online safety organisation, advises Marketplace users to take extra steps to protect themselves when buying or selling online.
It says sellers and buyers should verify each other’s identities by reviewing profiles and conducting online checks to confirm authenticity.
It also recommends the use of secure payment methods, such as PayPal, and a meeting in a public location so goods can be inspected before the exchange.
Victims of scams are encouraged to document the incident, report it to Facebook and the police and contact the appropriate bank.
Facebook scam.
