Pawnbroker spots Facebook scam (From Southend Standard)
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Pawnbroker spots Facebook scam
12:00pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News
A PAWNBROKER spotted a scam on Facebook where a company was trading under its name.
The con affected people who were trying to buy from Essex Cash Xchange, in Ness Road, Shoebury.
The victims would pay for the goods via Paypal in good faith, but they would never receive their items.
The owner of the shop, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “They used our shop name and they put on their page our full address and phone number.
“We found out because a lady from Yorkshire rang us and asked to speak to ‘Joe’ but nobody with that name works here.”
It turned out the woman had been conned out of her money.
Another man then came into the shop asking where his headphones were -only to discover he had been conned.
The matter was reported to police and soon Essex Cash XChange saw their details had been pulled off the Facebook page.
But instead the company was now proporting to be Cash-In-Hand, which has shop branches in Queen Street, Colchester, and New Street, Braintree.
It even used a picture of the shop to make it seem more genuine - while flogging iPhones and Xboxes.
Branch manager Kevin Fisher was alerted by Essex Cash XChange about the scam.
He said: “We want everyone to know this is not us. “We don’t sell stuff through our Facebook page. If you are unsure then please ring the store.
“Hopefully the police will be able to trace them before it drags our reputation through the mud.”
The fake profile claims to be from Hales, Norfolk, and Cash-In-Hand’s genuine account does not sell goods via PayPal.
No local victims have come forward but people as far away as Kings Lynn and Bristol have complained, demanding the goods they have paid for.
Mr Fisher reported the scam to both Facebook and the police and it is now being investigated by the Home Office’s anti-fraud squad, Action Fraud.
A spokesman said: “It is too early to comment on this specific case."
He added: “If you are a victim of shopping or auction fraud, the most immediate problem is that you have no real prospect of returning the goods or having your money refunded.
“If the seller has misrepresented the goods you’ve bought, report the fraud to Action Fraud.”
Comments(10)
thurrock design
says...
12:28pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Where there is a way these con artists will take advantage.
Nebs
says...
12:28pm Tue 22 Jan 13
marshman
says...
2:34pm Tue 22 Jan 13
thurrock design wrote:Dunno. Don't they usually deal with visas and immigration?
Facebook are trying to allow businesses to reach people but there is not authentication, they should take a look at Google places and how they validate businesses before allowing the business to trade on their website as a business. Where there is a way these con artists will take advantage.
marshman
says...
4:03pm Tue 22 Jan 13
marshman wrote:Oops, wrong quote. Should have been in reply to Nebs. But you're right. Anyone can create a fictitious FB account and more needs to be done to protect people from on-line fraud.
thurrock design wrote: Facebook are trying to allow businesses to reach people but there is not authentication, they should take a look at Google places and how they validate businesses before allowing the business to trade on their website as a business. Where there is a way these con artists will take advantage.Dunno. Don't they usually deal with visas and immigration?
Rob777
says...
9:49pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Well the informant wont be to hard to track will he .........?
EssexBoy1956
says...
10:32pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Can we get some journos that can write English please.
A.N.Other
says...
11:02pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Nebs wrote:Because this type of con is normally committed by Nigerians
Why are the home office involved?
Ian P
says...
7:33am Wed 23 Jan 13
A.N.Other
says...
12:43am Thu 24 Jan 13
Ian P wrote:It is organised crime. It is a growing problem. They set up fake internet shops selling phones, laptops etc and even fake banks and lottery prize funds with the proceeds siphoned off mostly to Nigeria.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate then for the Foreign Office to be involved rather than the Home Office. LOL.
Eric Whim says...
12:10pm Tue 22 Jan 13