We have all got used to scammers in recent years. Back in the day there was the Nigerian prince who wanted to send me some money. Then the person allegedly from my bank who wanted me to transfer all my savings to a “safe” account. And the email from my broadband company needing me to re-enter all my personal details. But this week I finally lost patience when I tried to sell an old sideboard.
It is a rather nice mahogany sideboard that used to be owned by my wife’s grandparents. We have had it for years, but no-one in the family wants it and it is taking up space we need. So I put it ion Facebook Marketplace for the bargain price of £30. There was quite a lot of interest but more than half the replies were scammers.
The scam works like this “I really like the item but I am busy tomorrow so I will send UPS (or another logistics company) to get it and they will bring you the cash.” I had not heard of this scam so I went along with the first person till I became suspicious. But how can it be a scam if they are giving me money? Well I did some fraud research and apparently if I had gone ahead, UPS would have contacted me asking me to pay their insurance for handling cash, and obviously they would then have disappeared.
But the sideboard is just £30. Surely insurance would not have been more than £5. So how can this be worth the effort for a scammer? Maybe they would have tried to steal my data at the same time?
Anyway, I hate scammers. What is hopefully a real person is coming on Saturday to get the sideboard. Let’s hope she does not offer me a cheque.
Pete's Blog 
I have recently fallen hook, line & sinker for a scammer. Bought a garden shed via FB, or at least I thought I had. Looking back, it was an offer too good to be true but I fell for it. All that arrived through the post was a ring! Nearly £50 out of pocket which I am trying to claim back via my credit card.
There are lots of others that have fallen for the same scam.
But, even so, what a huge plonker I am!!!!
So easy to get caught