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MEMBERS of the public have been urged to be cautious when shopping on social media marketplaces.
The warning comes from Detective Sergeant David Hall, of the North Wales Police Economic Crime Unit.
He said: “Online shopping fraud is big at the moment – particularly on places like Facebook Marketplace.
“People are being sent fake Paypal emails to say the money is in their account, or that it’ll be there in two hours, and then they’re sending their phones or whatever they’re selling via Royal Mail.
“What is interesting is that people think we can just go to Royal Mail and say ‘can you just take that package out of the post?’
READ MORE: North Wales residents report £10,600 loses in marketplace fraud
“We can not. Once it’s in the post, they are legally obliged to attempt delivery.”
Another type of fraud known to be committed via marketplace-type selling sites has seen prospective buyers turning up to meet the seller and showing them a picture of a transfer having happened on their phone, or a fake banking app appearing to show that the payment has been made.
DS Hall said: “They say the money will take around two hours to appear in their account – but they leave with the item and the money never appears.
READ MORE: Flintshire residents warned about ‘Amazon’ phone scam
“Don’t let what you’re selling go, unless you have confirmation the payment is in your account. It should show up virtually instantly.
“We have also started to have people come in saying they have been paid for things with counterfeit money – and this is how the frauds morph.
“The fake banking app scam has run its course and people have become more aware, so they are trying something else – but I am sure they will go back to it.”
