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Michael Brookes - Scammer Alert

Sorry to read all of this.
Scum bags and lowlifes resort to this sort of behaviour.

To date I have only glowing recommendations in using PFM. No issues in buying or selling.
 
Assume you’ve reported it to action fraud? Is it’s any consolation, I was scammed 3 years ago for £6k by an incredibly elaborate fraud involving fake courier company websites (Pacefast Logistics) and a fake seller by the name of Ephrain Isaac. Videos were sent showing him having lunch with his kids and demonstrating the amp. When I said I wasn’t comfortable sending the whole amount he agreed to 50% up front and 50 on delivery. He then said his wife was very worried about that and he could only do the whole lot up front. Dockets showing the boxes being dropped at the courier and tracking info by text / email until on the day of delivery I get one saying your package is held in customs (in Istanbul) because the vendor hasn’t paid taxes. To release the package you need to arrange for a further 1.5k to be wired to this account. At that moment I knew. It was very slick but absolutely devastating for me. I hope you get your money back.
Absolutely devastating. I know of so many people who have been duped , not just hifi and some in excess of 15k. As you say the scams are so elaborate now. Awful.
 
Got caught out selling a camera body on eBay a few years back.

Got paid via Paypal & then the buyer collected. Next day the payment was reversed by Paypal as the account had somehow been hacked. Lesson learned....if receiving Paypal payment only mail to the registered Paypal address.



Hope you get a good outcome.
Never EVER take Paypal on collection. This kind of trick is just one of many tools the scammers have at their disposal.
What about a nice sticky at the top of the Classifieds with a list of common fraud methods, and how to be aware of scams.

It happens to us all I’m afraid but we can all learn by sharing experience. When I look back, I’ve taken some awful risks, but so far, I’m not significantly out of pocket. But I deserve to be.

edit: I’ve just noticed there is a sticky. Doh!
 
Anyone receiving replies to their Wanted ads, be aware of someone calling themselves Michael Brookes. I’ve just lost £900 after he replied to my Croft 25R wanted ad on Hifiwigwam. Seems this person has a long history of scamming hifi forums. He asked for payment to be sent to the account of a Sarah Brookes, who he claimed is his wife. Just warning people here to not send any funds to this person. He even produced an image of a Croft 25R with the day’s date and Hifiwigwam written on a piece of paper next to the amp, as asked for.
Thanks we all need reminding of online activity
 
Never EVER take Paypal on collection. This kind of trick is just one of many tools the scammers have at their disposal.
What about a nice sticky at the top of the Classifieds with a list of common fraud methods, and how to be aware of scams.

It happens to us all I’m afraid but we can all learn by sharing experience. When I look back, I’ve taken some awful risks, but so far, I’m not significantly out of pocket. But I deserve to be.

edit: I’ve just noticed there is a sticky. Doh!

This cost me £500
 
Sorry to hear that. So they just claimed too not have revived it at all and you couldn’t prove it? I know they introduced a collection code nowadays on eBay but not sure about PayPal.
 
Sorry to hear that. So they just claimed too not have revived it at all and you couldn’t prove it? I know they introduced a collection code nowadays on eBay but not sure about PayPal.

Pretty much. PayPal TC's even state that they do not cover items being collected.

There was a Panorama on it a few years ago, a 'travelling' scam family were picking up expensive items like a Ferrari bonnet, paying on PayPal then putting a 'not received' claim in next day after collecting it. The guy had CCTV, emails, etc, but lost his case, as they all did/do.
 
Crazy. I’ll check out that panorama if I can find it.

I wonder how it works with eBay now as we have no way to tell how they paid. I would hope the collection code provided by the buyer covers it?
 
Crazy. I’ll check out that panorama if I can find it.

I wonder how it works with eBay now as we have no way to tell how they paid. I would hope the collection code provided by the buyer covers it?

Its 50/50 if they have used PayPal. Basically you will get a 'charge dispute' raised, and you'll need to enter in the collection code as proof, then its at the mercy of PayPal who decide. eBay 'should' cover it if PayPal decide against it under their buyer protection protocol but they don't always, and they also slap on a fee for managing the dispute for you.
 
There is not much that I could add to what has already been said in this thread.

I'd also like to express my sympathy with the victim, and anger over the immorality of the scammers.

In nearly 40 years of intermittent buying/selling used hi-fi I have never had a scam involving anyone on Pfm. I think that is a tribute to Tony and other administrators, who have done a lot to ensure a safe environment for genuine enthusiasts.

Of course through the course of time one tends to 'recognise' the more regular members and the types of equipment they 'specialise' in. By that route I've come to have quite a few trusted and valued contacts.

I must say all of that contrasts vividly with some of my experiences of scams, attempted scams and rip-offs on the well-known, not to say notorious, large international site we all know about. There, I've had variants of what happened to Nagraboy and RS3, plus a number of false insurance claims about products sent not being what was advertised etc. I've also had attempted withdrawals from bank accounts whose details were given out. An ex-BT senior technologist told me around a year ago that scammers will now piece together 'profiles' of victims from different internet sources. Hence, security on the Router/Network you use to buy/sell on is also significant.

Unfortunately, with economic circumstances as they are, these problems are liable to become even more common. All the good advice given should be followed. Moreover, all details of sales or purchases should be carefully recorded, including bank details, cash amounts & source accounts, photos where appropriate etc.

Thanks for sharing the particulars of this sad tale.

Skyebridge
 
Crazy. I’ll check out that panorama if I can find it.

I wonder how it works with eBay now as we have no way to tell how they paid. I would hope the collection code provided by the buyer covers it?

The bay has added a collection code for buyer pick, but not sure if this protect seller.
 
The bay has added a collection code for buyer pick, but not sure if this protect seller.

It would appear to be there for the benefit of the seller, not the buyer: the collection code is sent to the buyer by ebay, and when the buyer collects, they are supposed to show the code to the seller, who enters it, certifiying that the buyer has collected the item. The buyer can't then claim that they didn't collect it.
However, ebay's website says this: "Items collected in person are still covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee if paid for with PayPal, however eBay Money Back Guarantee does not cover cash on collection transactions, or transactions where the item was not collected by the buyer."

So contrary to what was said further up the thread, PayPal on collection would appear to be safer for the seller, so long as they get the collection code from the buyer.

Edit: I put that the wrong way, I guess. PayPal on collection with the collection code may not be safer than cash. But it's safer than if there were no collection code, surely.
 
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It would appear to be there for the benefit of the seller, not the buyer: the collection code is sent to the buyer by ebay, and when the buyer collects, they are supposed to show the code to the seller, who enters it, certifiying that the buyer has collected the item. The buyer can't then claim that they didn't collect it.
However, ebay's website says this: "Items collected in person are still covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee if paid for with PayPal, however eBay Money Back Guarantee does not cover cash on collection transactions, or transactions where the item was not collected by the buyer."

So contrary to what was said further up the thread, PayPal on collection would appear to be safer for the seller, so long as they get the collection code from the buyer.

It's not contrary, it's a different process. This is utilising eBays collection code for purchases on eBay- which can ONLY be used on the eBay App - if you don't use the App, then you can't enter the collection code in on your computer, which is ridiculous really. PayPal is NEVER safer for the seller over cash. Never. Why would you want to put six months warranty on something for free? which is what you do with PayPal and eBay managed payments as of the 180 day chargeback option.
 
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It's not contrary, it's a different process. This is utilising eBays collection code for purchases on eBay- which can ONLY be used on the eBay App - if you don't use the App, then you can't enter the collection code in on your computer, which is ridiculous really. PayPal is NEVER safer for the seller over cash. Never. Why would you want to put six months warranty on something for free? which is what you do with PayPal and eBay managed payments as of the 180 day chargeback option.

OK, I see what you mean. You're right that the app's a pain, and it can can be awkward getting the buyer to produce the code. The point I was making is that the collection code is a mechanism to allow ebay's seller protection to apply to items collected in person. It's not perfect but it's something. Cash isn't foolproof either.
 
OK, I see what you mean. You're right that the app's a pain, and it can can be awkward getting the buyer to produce the code. The point I was making is that the collection code is a mechanism to allow ebay's seller protection to apply to items collected in person. It's not perfect but it's something. Cash isn't foolproof either.

Yeah it was definitely needed, I just wish they had implemented it properly as not everyone uses the eBay app, and yes you;re right, cash isn't either. Its bandit country out there!
 
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Having bought a couple of items (and in the process of buying something else) from members, I wonder is there a way of adding a 'green thumb' to a sellers or buyers avatar/photo, indicating they've bought/sold via the boards? I would also be very happy to a vol listing fee or a donation following a sale.
 
Having bought a couple of items (and in the process of buying something else) from members, I wonder is there a way of adding a 'green thumb' to a sellers or buyers avatar/photo, indicating they've bought/sold via the boards? I would also be very happy to a vol listing fee or a donation following a sale.
One possible flaw there is that a patient scammer will do what's necessary to gain a trusted profile and then pull a scam.

The best way is to have prominent scam warnings and for people to be cautious and alert.
 
I've been done a few times - once by a well known trader on here who threatened court action when I mentioned on here that he kept the dac I'd sent to him months before. Tony was very good about it but obviously couldn't do anything. It was years ago. You live and learn sadly.
I bought a cheap meridian CD player that turned out to be knackered - the seller said he thought that I knew it wouldn't be knackered as it was too cheap to be anything else!

I also bought a pair of Triangle floor standing speakers from the, then, UK distributor. One had a huge chunk out of the top of it and the distributor charged me the freight to take them back! ( I know this is illegal now, it wasn't then)

This was all years ago and served to make me wary. I recently saw a Roksan pre amp on HiFi For sale that I fancied. The lady had put her first name and contact details on the advert, so I copied them onto PFM to see if anyone knew her. The thread got modded instantly so that was that. I bought a Dynavector off Ebay which I'm very pleased with.

I often complain about Ebay but at least you can often get your money back when you accidentally buy rubbish.

There are lots of private sellers out there who will screw you as soon as look at you.

My favourite quote I see often on here: " I will post this but only at the buyer's risk"
That one always tickles me.
 
How do scams typically work the other way around?

I’ve had a couple of DMs recently from members who are interested in buying stuff I’ve got for sale and they literally have no posts and joined the very day they messaged me.

Am sure they are legit I just wonder how scams work from a seller perspective and what protection you have?

Possibly a dumb question but I’m really wary at the moment as got caught up in credit card fraud recently and had £4k of dodgy purchases booked on my credit card !!!
 
How do scams typically work the other way around?

I’ve had a couple of DMs recently from members who are interested in buying stuff I’ve got for sale and they literally have no posts and joined the very day they messaged me.

Am sure they are legit I just wonder how scams work from a seller perspective and what protection you have?

Possibly a dumb question but I’m really wary at the moment as got caught up in credit card fraud recently and had £4k of dodgy purchases booked on my credit card !!!

They will usually try to get the goods and reclaim the funds which is why you want cash or fast bank transfer.

To note the new scam of fake banking apps so you need to see the funds in your account not just them sending on their phone.

Also, there's a small chance the payment can be reversed by the bank (eg. Proceeds of crime). Equally bank notes could be fake or they could just straight rob you (common with s/h cars, high value gumtree items etc) so nothing is risk free!
 


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