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People flogging valuable items on eBay, Facebook and Gumtree are being warned about a new scam.
West Midlands Police say sellers looking to make some extra money in lockdown have been conned out of more than £125,000 by scammers in recent months.
The con-artists have been targeting people selling high-value goods, such as watches and mobile phones, reports BirminghamLive.
According to police, they pay for an item via bank transfer and a fraudulent cheque is then paid into the victim’s account, so the funds show as pending.
But after the seller has handed over the item and walked away, the cheque bounces back unpaid.
Police are urging sellers to check their online banking on a computer or phone their bank to confirm the payment is complete before handing over items.
Sometimes, pending transactions show as cleared on the mobile banking apps.
Detective constable Edward Spokes, from the Economic Crime Unit, said: “The closure of non-essential shops has meant more people are buying and selling their goods online.
“Unfortunately, fraudsters are finding ways to take advantage of people even during this difficult time.
“Anyone selling goods online should check with their banks that any payments have cleared their accounts before handing over goods.
“Funds shown as pending in the account do not necessarily mean that the payment has been completed.”
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Earlier this year, Royal Mail customers were warned about a delivery scam.
Scammers have been sending texts and emails that tell people they owe a fee for a parcel.
The message includes a link to what looks like a legitimate Royal Mail website – but it is a fake.
It’s a website that has been set up so that fraudsters can steal people’s personal details.
The message says: “Royal Mail: your package has a £2.99 shipping fee, to pay this now visit… Actions will be taken if you do not pay this fee.”
Royal Mail has been warning people to be vigilant against these types of scams and it is urging customers to avoid clicking on the link.
Daily Star has contacted eBay, Facebook and Gumtree for comment.
