[Urgent] Potential Classifieds Scam, need assistance

[Vapour38]

Hi all, I believe I may have just been scammed out of $2500 through a man-in-the-middle on classifieds, meaning I paid for an edge that someone else will recieve. If you have seen an EdgeHD listed with these accessories, please let me know so I can see if it’s the same one given to me.

The Celestron edge 8" HD OTA
The 0.7x Redcer
Diagonal
Dew shield
The Finder and finder bracket
The Off Axis Guider and the celestron eyepieces.

[Nikolas]

More info required

[Vapour38]

Apologies, I should have elaborated. I’ve been talking to a user for the past week or so about buying an edge8, and on Sunday morning I sent them $2500 to pay for it. I haven’t heard from them since, which has got me worried. In their latest emails they asked for a transaction receipt to confirm the payment, which suggests that I could have been instead transferring the money to an actual seller of an edge8, who my seller is buying from, and I paid for it instead.

I’m hoping that someone might have seen an Edge listing that is selling the same items as the ones I listed below, as it could potentially be the actual seller of the scope I was told I was buying, and I can get in contact with the actual seller to sort it out - a long shot but my only option.

My confusion lies in the fact the seller I was talking to gave bank details (I know, lesson learnt, use PayPal) that matched their name/email, gave legit photos, and had a good understanding of the equipment and hobby. I’m still hoping I will receive a message now it is Monday, but if not I will give their name so their account can be flagged.

[Tinderboxsky]

Lachlan,
Have you notified the Moderators?

[Vapour38]

That will be the next step if I don’t hear anything by the end of the day. What’s the best way to contact them?

[RB]

Can you please point out (link) the actual Ad in our Icetrade Classifieds?

RB

[sheeny]

The only ads I could find on IceTrades for a Celestron 8" edge were archived in February this year, or 2021, or 2020. Nothing lately and nothing matching the list of extras.



I suggest you notify your bank urgently, they may be able to stop / recover the money and go to Police. If you have a name and matching account numbers that's a good start.


Al.

[Vapour38]

He contacted me through PM after I posted this https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=209872. His user id is https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=35525

[Vapour38]

I’m in the process of doing that now, very frustrating as the chance of recovering the money is close to 0. A very confusing scam considering all the factors I listed, but it seems unlikely he will respond to me now.

[Nikolas]

The user mentioned has zero posts which rings massive alarm bells. I hope you get recourse asap

[RB]

Exactly Nik.

RB

[Leo.G]

Reporting the scam to the bank and police is the next logical step.

[sheeny]

Are you sure?



The reply you got is from Wil (member number 37457) and the member in you link is Patrice (member number 35525). :shrug:


Al.

[pgc hunter]

I would never do an online transaction with someone who has zero, or very little posts, or I haven't seen activity from before on here in some capacity.

[RB]

I assume he was contacted via PM by Patrice without a reply to his wanted ad.

:shrug:

[sheeny]

Ahhhh...

[Leo.G]

Patrice:
Last Activity: Yesterday 04:20 PM

[Vapour38]

The guy who replied isn’t the same, the other DMed me directly

[Vapour38]

I was hesitant at first as well, but this guy didn’t raise any red flags. Understood the hobby, photos were taken in one place and matched the listed items, astrophoto prints in the background, and a photo with my name and his written next to the box. Definitely a lesson learnt