Police are warning consumers to be on their guard after people who believed they were purchasing electronic devices were conned out of their cash.
One incident occurred last week when a victim paid £400 to two men who had offered to sell him a laptop and an iPhone. The man was given a laptop bag and the fraudsters left. The man later discovered only bottles of drink inside the bag and no laptop or iPhone. Similar incidences of fraudsters purporting to be selling laptops and iPhones have been reported to police across the Northumbria area.
Protect Yourself From Bogus Sellers
People across the UK are being warned to be wary about anyone offering to sell them products on the street or online, particularly at a price that seems too good to be true. Legitimate sellers will not mind if you want to take some time before committing to a purchase, or asking for more information to check the product is not fake. If you are buying products online, be wary of purchasing products from people with little or no selling history and watch out for phishing emails that look like they come from an online auction or payment site you are registered with. Do not be afraid to walk away if it doesn’t seem right.
If you have been a victim of a fraud like this, report it to Action Fraud.
Read more about these latest laptop and iPhone frauds on the Northumbria Police website.
Please note that Action Fraud is not responsible for the content of external websites.
To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online reporting tool.
Related links:
Shopping fraud
Door to door sales fraud
Counterfeit goods fraud
