Laptop Sale Scam Leaves Victim Out of Pocket £1,400
A man pulled off a slick scam after agreeing to buy a laptop for £1,400 via Facebook Marketplace. The buyer showed up at the seller’s home on Mallard Road at around 4.30pm on Friday, 18 December 2022, pretending to transfer the cash through a banking app.
Fake Payment Trick
In front of the victim, the scammer opened a banking app and acted like he was sending the money. When the payment didn’t appear instantly, he made a phone call, claiming it might take up to two hours to process. The victim trusted him and handed over the laptop – but the cash never arrived.
Police Hunt Man Behind Fraud
“We are carrying out enquiries into this incident and have a photo of a man we want to speak to,” said Police Constable Al Brown from Dorset Police.
“If anyone can identify him, please get in touch. Also, we urge the public to be extra cautious when buying online. Never hand over goods until you see the money in your bank account. Genuine buyers understand this.”
Spot a Scam? Dorset Police Want to Hear From You
If you have any information, contact 123 or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
