Fraudulent payments for items sold on social media Marketplaces have been reported in North Wales to the police.

North Wales Police say they have received several reports from members of the public in relation to the issue.

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Genuine sellers have been listing items on the Marketplace. Fraudulent buyers have then been agreeing to buy high-value items and upon collection and payment of the item, the buyer shows the seller their mobile device with alleged proof of payment on an app. They sometimes claim that it can take up to two hours for the transaction to appear in the seller’s bank account which police say isn’t genuinely the case.

However, the app that they’ve shown on their screen isn’t a genuine banking app and in reality, no payment has been made. The fraudulent buyer leaves with the item and the seller hasn’t received any payment.

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North Wales Police said: “Our advice for sellers is to check your own bank account and not to hand over any items that you’re selling until payment has arrived in your account. 

“The fraudulent buyer may be very convincing and may try to push you into handing over the item and try to convince you that they can be trusted.

On some occasions, fraudulent buyers have entered the seller’s address and have become aggressive putting the seller under immense pressure.  If this happens, call 999 immediately and refer to Marketplace fraud.”

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The advice to the public is:

  • Don’t trust anybody you don’t know!
  • If you’re selling a phone, record the IMEI number.
  • Don’t let the buyer into your house.