Be aware of scammers operating on local sites

Someone on this forum?

Why do people mostly always post half a story on this site,  West007ham would you please re post with the Bank you paid the monies into, the date and time of the transfer of funds please, which Bank you transferred funds from, (ie; Spain or from the UK etc)  NOT THE ACCOUNT NUMBER, did you pay by credit card? , is your post open, sincere and honest?,  the item you thought you had purchased, where advertised, the add that showed the item for sale and the persons name and matching Iban number please. There is a reason I ask this. Once I have verified items I will then get back to you with a view to resolving the matter. Sincerely, R. 

Hi sorry for lack of full information the goods were advertised on hondon valley buy n sell we paid the money from English bank account into I think a monza ❓account the name on the account matched up with the account number so I thought a genuine bank account the facebook picture was of an English couple so foolishly I went ahead but then realised it was a scam rung the bank they said details matched the account but couldn’t tell us any more details we asked them to look into a fraudulent transaction they got back to us yesterday and said they can’t do anything our p

Sorry for your loss but if you live in Frailes and the item was effectively on your doorstep in the in the Hondon valley I can't help but wonder why you did not simply visit seller and pay on receipt of the goods, or at the very least satisfy yourself that the ad was genuine before transferring cash.

I don't think I'd willingly fork out €650 in such circumstances.

You still haven't said if it was someone on this forum, if not please please don't say it was Facebook Marketplace!

Hello. West007ham. Thankyou for your reply. Well we are 25% there. I think you mean the Monzo Bank operating in the UK, London. It is a fully regulated bank. To open an account one needs a phone be it a Landline or a mobile, Proper ID being a Passport, Driving licence, National Insurance Number, Proof of your UK address, a bill with your name on it, one must also live in the United Kingdom. There are also other interesting facts, the Monzo Bank take a copy of your ID/Picture then you have to take a dated video of yourself, send the video to the Bank to verify who you really are. Monzo Bank then post your debit card to your UK registered address. Thus your Bank are now lying to you stating they cannot help you. They have allowed this person to open an account with them. There is no way a video could be sent to the Bank with a face that matches a held Passport, Driving Licence or a valid National Insurance Number. Well yes there is a way around this (NOT GOING INTO THAT) however it would cost many thousands to set up and not to be used for a Hondon Valley scam for a poultry figure. The Bank have all the details, the person who you say you paid for goods not received does exist. After your telephone conversation the Monzo Bank  should have automatically informed the Action Fraud Department, city of London Police telephone; 03001232040. The Bank is also liable for your loss. There is something very very wrong here. If you would care to open up a little more with details that would be wonderful. My Regards. R.

Hi thanks for your helpful response my bank was first direct they said that they cannot give us any information about their account but we sort of found out that it was a monza type account but all details matched with the English guys name we haven’t been in touch with the other bank yet as our bank said it’s our f

If I've understood correctly, while the expectation was that an exchange of goods would take place in Spain, the financial transactions are between a UK bank account (First Direct) and a UK bank account (Monzo) with the victim owning the First Direct account and the fraudster the Monzo account.

So this would I imagine be governed by UK law etc - you paid for some goods and haven't received them.

Check if you can get your money back after a scam - Citizens Advice

If you scroll down towards the bottom of the link above it advises what action to take depending on how you paid (I'm guessing it was bank transfer). However, I don't think you've been the victim of an "authorised push scam" as they mention as everything was in order (i.e. you were paying the right account to a person whose name aligned with the account etc - but now they've not provided the goods).

If First Direct are not playing ball, I'd be minded to be contacting the UK police and see what they advise - as you know the name etc of the person who has scammed you, I'd hope there is some form of criminal offence they can progress whether it is fraud or theft or something else. You won't be the first person this has ever happened to.

Alternatively, maybe ActionFraud can offer some assistance if you wish before contacting the police.

Hello again. I cannot advise nor give you contact details without all the facts which only you know. Neither do you need to feel a little stupid about the situation. Approx 40 years ago when I was much younger I was driving my car through a town in the North East of England called North Shields. To cut this short in a door way at around 10 pm in the evening I saw a young man huddled in the doorway, it was pouring with rain. I had a quick discussion with myself, part of me said don't, I turned the car around and went and talked to the young man. He seemed sensible and decent just in a plight at that moment in time. I gave him my card and drove off after leaving him thinking. My phone rang the next day, he said was I genuine in what I had said the night before, I said yes. We met, he moved into an empty flat I owned for free up to  a year until he found employment. He was fed and had free use of utilities. After 4 months it was apparent he was a waste of time. It took me nearly 2 years to evict him and others he let into my property. So there you are, we have all been a bit daft in the past. I still make "Blunders". If you hit a brick wall with the Bank then message me. Do not be fobbed off.  Sincerely. R. 

NEVER pay online by bank transfer EVER!