DoneDeal Scam

Killarney2988

Hi there, before you all year strips off me, hear me out. I paid someone 600 euro for an iPhone X off of donedeal. The person looked legitimate as they had two other ads posted and were based in Kerry with good photos of the products. I should have seen the red flags of the account being made only in 2019. I had a long period of conversation with them and we decided that they would post me the phone after I paid half the amount before and the balance after receiving the package. I paid 275 euro via AIB bank transfer, and the seller said that they would post the package the next day. The next day a donedeal message from the seller arriv3d stating that at the post office they had asked her the value of the item and she said it was an iPhone 600 euro. They apparently convinced her that she could be scammed and shouldn't send phones through the post. She insisted I send her the balance or she was too scared to send the phone. I felt bad for her, as she seemed foreign so I agreed and sent over the balance. She told me that the parcel was posted and to let her know if it didn't arrive. Well, having just been thinking over the whole story and writing it down now, I feel that this is almost definitely a scam. Its only been three working days since she supposedly sent the phone, but I don't think it will ever arrive. She gave me a phone number and address, but the address is for a holiday village and the number is not hers. Anybody any ideas for recourse, where I should go. I know I'm a dope who fell for a classic con. I'm over that fact now. Any help would be appreciated.

enricoh

Buy off adverts or gumtree in future, done deal is full of scammers.
After u get stung the next time, try going to a shop.

Killarney2988

Good advice, but not exactly helpful at this current juncture. I was more thinking in line of chargeback on AIB or reporting the seller

whiterebel

You’re in the Apple Devices forum, its not really where you’d expect to get advice on getting scammed by Donedealm even if it was an iPhone.

368100

Killarney2988 wrote: »

Good advice, but not exactly helpful at this current juncture. I was more thinking in line of chargeback on AIB or reporting the seller

AIB wont be interested if you did it as a bank transfer rather than a credit card payment. No obligation on them to get money back and you've no rights to claim it either.

Killarney2988

368100 wrote: »

AIB wont be interested if you did it as a bank transfer rather than a credit card payment. No obligation on them to get money back and you've no rights to claim it either.

As I had feared, an expensive lesson then. I'll take it on the chin. Thanks very much for your assistance.

Doctors room ghost

I hope the money fattens her. I fcukin hate scammers.may she not have an ounce of luck until her dying day.
Sorry to hear you got scammed

368100

Killarney2988 wrote: »

As I had feared, an expensive lesson then. I'll take it on the chin. Thanks very much for your assistance.

Sorry it wasn't better news for you. Out of interest was it an AIB account the money went to? They might report it for money laundering if it was, especially if this is a frequent scam...I wouldnt hold out any hope on getting money back though

Killarney2988

368100 wrote: »

Sorry it wasn't better news for you. Out of interest was it an AIB account the money went to? They might report it for money laundering if it was, especially if this is a frequent scam...I wouldnt hold out any hope on getting money back though

It was an AIB Account as a matter of fact. As a result there's maybe a possibility they have an address and phone number for the seller. Who knows?

Killarney2988

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

I hope the money fattens her. I fcukin hate scammers.may she not have an ounce of luck until her dying day.
Sorry to hear you got scammed

This. Honestly like, I know that a fool deserves what he gets and all that, but I think with the prevalence of crimes like this we need to deal more harshly with perpetrators.

368100

Killarney2988 wrote: »

It was an AIB Account as a matter of fact. As a result there's maybe a possibility they have an address and phone number for the seller. Who knows?

They probably won't give details to you though....unless you call into a branch and get someone friendly...

Doctors room ghost

Killarney2988 wrote: »

This. Honestly like, I know that a fool deserves what he gets and all that, but I think with the prevalence of crimes like this we need to deal more harshly with perpetrators.

And knowing the joke shop of a country we have she probably spends the rest of her time collecting entitlements in the post office.
More prisons wanted badly

Killarney2988

368100 wrote: »

They probably won't give details to you though....unless you call into a branch and get someone friendly...

Yes with GDPR everyone is ****ting themselves for fear of being sued.

368100

Killarney2988 wrote: »

Yes with GDPR everyone is ****ting themselves for fear of being sued.

No harm in asking though, just on off change...you've nothing to lose

Hoboo

What's wrong with contacting the gardai?

Sleeper12

enricoh wrote:

Buy off adverts or gumtree in future, done deal is full of scammers. After u get stung the next time, try going to a shop.

Same amount of scammers on all of the sites to be fair.

OP here's the hindsight advice. Not much use to you but someone reading might find it useful. You should pay by PayPal for almost total protection. There are two ways to send money through PayPal. Family & friends means that the person receives the money pays no fees but you have zero protection. Sales & services means receiver pays commission but the sender has protection. In this case you open a PayPal dispute, win & get your money back.

Seller should have sent the phone registered mail. She would have gotten a tracking number that she should text to you so you can track delivery. If she has no tracking number I think its safe to say that it was never posted. You get free tracking on parcels from 8 euros postage

Nonoperational

Unfortunately it's likely a lesson hard learned. Horrible thing to happen but you can be sure you'll never fall for anything like this again. New accounts on those sale sites with prices extremely good are unfortunately almost always scams. I'd probably mention it to the guards anyway.

Killarney2988

Hoboo wrote: »

What's wrong with contacting the gardai?

A long drawn out process providing loads of ev8dence only to be told "Sorry we don't think that you have overwhelming evidence". I can think if better ways to spend my time

Killarney2988

Nonoperational wrote: »

Unfortunately it's likely a lesson hard learned. Horrible thing to happen but you can be sure you'll never fall for anything like this again. New accounts on those sale sites with prices extremely good are unfortunately almost always scams. I'd probably mention it to the guards anyway.

Yes but as we know, the Irish justice system doesn't have much regard for consumers. Usually they just say take it up with eBay, Donedeal, Paypal. Anyone but themselves

Killarney2988

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Same amount of scammers on all of the sites to be fair.

OP here's the hindsight advice. Not much use to you but someone reading might find it useful. You should pay by PayPal for almost total protection. There are two ways to send money through PayPal. Family & friends means that the person receives the money pays no fees but you have zero protection. Sales & services means receiver pays commission but the sender has protection. In this case you open a PayPal dispute, win & get your money back.

Seller should have sent the phone registered mail. She would have gotten a tracking number that she should text to you so you can track delivery. If she has no tracking number I think its safe to say that it was never posted. You get free tracking on parcels from 8 euros postage

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. I knew as soon as I sent the second payment that I was ****ed. I shouldn't have thrown good money after bad, and to be fair, at least I won't be caught again. I'd really feel for someone who was in a bad financial spot though who got caught like this.

Charlie-Bravo

From the AIB account number, does the sort code match the location they're living? If they're miles away from each other then pretty much scammed.

Or, An Post might be very slow and it'll turn up tomorrow!

Killarney2988

astrofluff wrote: »

From the AIB account number, does the sort code match the location they're living? If they're miles away from each other then pretty much scammed.

Or, An Post might be very slow and it'll turn up tomorrow!

Nope the sort code puts them in Clare and not Waterville. But people move, so maybe there's still hope hahahahaha. For real though if by some divine miracle it arrives it'll be the deal of the year.

rgodard80a

If the scammer used an Irish bank account then they would've had to use decent photo Id to create their account.

It's definitely worth telling AIB that you suspect they're a scammer and they might just put a note on the account or flag that account for fraud and possibly block future transfers.

punisher5112

You need to report this to the Gardai.

You also need to contact your bank.

Don't ever part money unless you have the item or its from a genuine business sale or eBay, Amazon etc.

Shefwedfan

Go to Garda, they can trace the account you transferred to and figure out where it is

Killarney2988

I'll contact the bank anyway and see where I get with them, if all else fails I'll fill out a report to hopefully stop others getting caught.

i71jskz5xu42pb

For €600, I wouldn't be "ho, hum, lesson learned" given that this is AIB to AIB.

Definitely report to the Gardai and then write to your branch manager (registered post) with your Garda report number and what happened.

Worst case you are down €600 + time in the station and the price of a registered letter.

After that only good things can happen:

• bank may have to get off their hole and look into it
• bank may flag her account if this is not the first issue reported
• Gardai may actually do something
• you might get your money back.

Killarney2988

Angelo Nice Coroner wrote: »

For €600, I wouldn't be "ho, hum, lesson learned" given that this is AIB to AIB.

Definitely report to the Gardai and then write to your branch manager (registered post) with your Garda report number and what happened.

Worst case you are down €600 + time in the station and the price of a registered letter.

After that only good things can happen:

• bank may have to get off their hole and look into it
• bank may flag her account if this is not the first issue reported
• Gardai may actually do something
• you might get your money back.

As stated I am going to contact the Gardai and file a report, as well as c9ntact AIB. It's just that I'm not hopeful for a positive outcome for me personally. My main concern is other people getting caught in the scam. I just want this person held accountable.

tedpan

Do you have a link to the ad or the other ads?

drunkmonkey

Take that link down straight away before you blow your chance of sorting this out.
How far are you away from said location if you were to arrange to go down and buy it again with cash.

Killarney2988

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Take that link down straight away before you blow your chance of sorting this out.
How far are you away from said location if you were to arrange to go down and buy it again with cash.

I'm fully convinced that the phone doesnt even exist though. The address given was for a holiday village and the number was ripped off another random donedeal ad.

Sono

Have contacted them there to see if it’s still available, will update if they reply.

Hope you get sorted OP.

belfe

My opinion is similar to the opinion of other posters. With proof that you've been scammed and the AIB bank account, you can report it to the gardai (or maybe talk to a solicitor?).

But it has been only three days, it may be just a problem with the post. Did the seller send a tracking number or a way for you to check that there is a parcel on its way? Can you contact them and ask for it?

Killarney2988

belfe wrote: »

My opinion is similar to the opinion of other posters. With proof that you've been scammed and the AIB bank account, you can report it to the gardai (or maybe talk to a solicitor?).

But it has been only three days, it may be just a problem with the post. Did the seller send a tracking number or a way for you to check that there is a parcel on its way? Can you contact them and ask for it?

They haven't been logged into DoneDeal for the last two days. And they never gave any tracking number.

Killarney2988

Sono wrote: »

Have contacted them there to see if it’s still available, will update if they reply.

Hope you get sorted OP.

Thanks, even though they haven't been replying to any of my messages or even reading them so I'd guess that they've gone off the grid.

yosser hughes

Killarney2988 wrote: »

I'm fully convinced that the phone doesnt even exist though. The address given was for a holiday village and the number was ripped off another random donedeal ad.

Report this to your bank immediately. They will send a Section 19 report to the Gardai. In the meantime the bank will start gathering evidence to handover to the Guards when they request it from the bank with a warrant.
The bank will be able to at least gather account opening documents and CCTV footage of any withdrawals from the account. Time is important here.
So call your bank immediately and also notify the guards.

Killarney2988

yosser hughes wrote: »

Report this to your bank immediately. They will send a Section 19 report to the Gardai. In the meantime the bank will start gathering evidence to handover to the Guards when they request it from the bank with a warrant.
The bank will be able to at least gather account opening documents and CCTV footage of any withdrawals from the account. Time is important here.
So call your bank immediately and also notify the guards.

How much proof will I need if AIB are to investigate though?

Sono

Not that it’s much use to you now but I personally hate done deal, for the very fact you’ve no way of knowing what/who you are dealing with, at least adverts you can spot time wasters straight away with their feedback.

Anyway not very helpful to the OP but if others are reading this just avoid donedeal it’s full of scammers.

I notice they’ve another fancy iPhone up for sale too which probably doesn’t exist either, scumbags.

yosser hughes

Killarney2988 wrote: »

How much proof will I need if AIB are to investigate though?

Just explain your story to them. They will take a closer look at this account and the transactions on it. There's a chance it's a mule account or that at least it's not the first time they have pulled this. The bank will recognise a pattern of activity. They will advise you to report it to the Gardai. However under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act they also have a legal requirement to report any suspected fraud.
Give them any details you have of the ad, screenshots, reference numbers etc.

Edward M

Sorry to hear that Killarney.
It doesent help much, but I had a similar experience once upon a time on the buy and sell magazine.
I contacted the gardai and my bank, the perpetrator was caught too, but I never got my money back, 200 euro at the time.
But at least I had the satisfaction of knowing who it was and that they were put through some discomfort for their trouble.
Though it was only a fine and a suspended sentence.
There were 15 cases resulting from the same ad.

drunkmonkey

Killarney2988 wrote: »

I'm fully convinced that the phone doesnt even exist though. The address given was for a holiday village and the number was ripped off another random donedeal ad.

There's nothing you can do that will get your money back.
AIB will not give it back to you. There is no evidence you can produce to the Guards that can't be countered with it got lost in the post.
You will not get the name of the person who owns the bank account and their address.

Saying that though
The local Guards close to where she is might be interested though as some times these little cases can lead to bigger things once they arrive. Thieves are stupid in my experience, get someones else's number and message them and play them along, tell them you don't have a bank account could you send them cash in an envelope and they post you the phone. If they bite get the guards involved.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Contact the Gardamake a statement of complaint and insist that it is investigated. It is theft by deception and so a criminal offence.

Seve OB

A classic scam. I can't understand how people fall for this kind of thing.

Spending that kind of money you should at the very least speak to the people on the phone, have verified contact details and pay by PayPal. Even then I wouldn't!

OP, hope you get some joy with the bank and guards. Also report to done deal.

Don't think that you will get any joy, but I do think they will take this seriously and investigate. These fkers have to be hunted..... Maybe get Liam Neeson after them

Mantis Toboggan

Sorry to hear that OP, it's sickening. Unfortunately The gards will have a big laugh and do nothing they're completely useless. Bank definitely your best bet. Best of luck.

drunkmonkey

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Contact the Gardamake a statement of complaint and insist that it is investigated. It is theft by deception and so a criminal offence.

On what basis, there is no proof of any theft or deception. All they need to say is it got lost in the post.
The only hope they'll do something is if he can give them a name and address. Hence get the address of where to post the cash.

Seve OB

drunkmonkey wrote: »

On what basis, there is no proof of any theft or deception. All they need to say is it got lost in the post.
The only hope they'll do something is if he can give them a name and address. Hence get the address of where to post the cash.

1. Who is going to say it's lost in post? Seller is uncontactable.
2. Say they do contact seller, there would be tracking number, so let in the post won't float.
3. IP addresses are traceable.
4. Guards have powers.
5. If this is a serial scammer guards will be very interested.
6. It's quite clear there has been deception here with the goal of stealing. Plenty of proof to be found in the trail of evidence.

yosser hughes

Just to be clear OP. Please report this to your bank and Garda. You may not get your money back but it may prevent someone else from being scammed in the future.
The bank DO have a statutory requirement to report suspicious activity and they will know it when they look at the account.
As Seve said above, there will be a trail here. IP addresses etc. But they cannot act if it's not reported.

micks_address

i almost got caught a few weeks ago with something similar. I posted a wanted add for a watch on US forum. That night I got an email from a seller saying he had one mint and sent me pictures. He said if wanted references to logon to a specific watch forum and message three users there, that he had dealt with them and they'd be happy to provide a reference for him. I did and low and behold they replied saying deal with confidence. They has been forum members for a year or two on this particular site. I was still cautious so emailed him back and said i wasnt sure. He gave me a uk based address and bank account. I asked him if i could pay half up front and he said no.. he would take 2 3rds and balance when i got the watch.

He wasnt at all pushy. I ran it by another person who deals in watches and he suggested as it was an expensive watch why not get a cheap flight over with ryanair and do the deal in person. I suggested this to the seller and while initially they seemed ok with it they very quickly went quiet. After a bit of googling i found the pictures he had sent me on another watch listed on ebay.

Bullet dodged. I contacted the forum where the users had vouched for this guy and they had no interest. Said as it wasn't a sale on their forum they had no responsibility. I just wanted to warn others that some accounts where obviously fake and were being used to con others. The fake accounts even had sales feedback from what looked like a genuine sale.

So i suppose for me, I'll never buy anything with bank transfer- unless i have it in my hand first and im happy with the item. I'd also be slow to take the word of online users as references.

I guess thats one good thing with ebay. You have protection with paypal. If an item doesnt arrive or is fake you can dispute it and get your money back.

Best of luck OP - as others have said, if you have a bank account etc then head to the guards. The seller might be a chancer and when they see legal involvement might get scared and refund. At least they are in the same country as you hopefully?

Cheers,
Mick

drunkmonkey

Your watching way too much TV if you think the Guards are going to be tracing ip addresses over a civil matter.

Banatamon

Got scammed 2 years ago, same kind of thing. Bank transfer for concert tickets and realized my mistake too late. Reported it to the guards who said they could give me no guarantees. Few months later got a call from the fraud dept of Bank of Ireland to tell me the money was being returned to my account! Money back and thank god I didn't have to learn my lesson the hard way.

miamee

Report it to DoneDeal as well OP so they can shut down this person's account and any other's they might have. Maybe wait for it to turn up in the post first though - when are they supposed to have posted it? It does sound fairly dodgy but I'd imagine DD and AGS will want a reasonable time to have passed before accepting that it was a scam.