Facebook scams

CariadAgain

Literally just had another email from a thief - they gave themselves an English name and wrote in perfect English.

They had an excuse for why their voice is (apparently) not working at the moment - hence writing. There was a giveaway though - British people don't use the phrase "Hope this finds you well" at the start of a conversation - but there was an Indian (I think??) guy that used to start all his YouTube broadcasts with that.....so I think it must be a common starter phrase in at least one other country. All my male friends/acquaintances currently are British - apart from one who is 50/50 German and English....

I sometimes buy crochet patterns online from a reputable designer and make sure I go to her site or that of a known yarn company.

She has found out that a man in Africa has stolen her pattern designs and is selling them on FB.

Your email "from a friend" may have been from someone who had hacked that friend's email address, or even hacked your own list of contacts somehow - they can hide their own identity under a stolen one. The friend may be unaware of this.

The result could be the same, so you were right to take precautions, but your friend may be totally innocent of trying to steal from you.

Literally just had another email from a thief - they gave themselves an English name and wrote in perfect English.

They had an excuse for why their voice is (apparently) not working at the moment - hence writing. There was a giveaway though - British people don't use the phrase "Hope this finds you well" at the start of a conversation - but there was an Indian (I think??) guy that used to start all his YouTube broadcasts with that.....so I think it must be a common starter phrase in at least one other country. All my male friends/acquaintances currently are British - apart from one who is 50/50 German and English....

Thanks for the warning.

Though I find emails are the worst. I get several emails from thieves a week on average - fortunately they usually go into my spam folder automatically (rather than my "real emails" folders). Latest one was telling me they were a courier and had been unable to make a delivery to me and I'd need to send them £1 something to try again. Unfortunately for them I know the only firm of "mine" that uses that courier these days is one I've not used for months and I know they don't do things like that (even though my house is a bit difficult to find - they've all managed to find it for some years now - now that all databases have "my" housename on them, rather than the name my house was called at the time I bought it).

Very wise to change your card though just in case. I changed mine recently when someone I'd thought was a friend asked me to borrow the hard drive of the computer I'd just swopped for a few hours!!!! Cue for I swopped my bank cards on the spot and "froze him out" instantly and am telling everyone in the small town I live in (and he still does....!!!!) that he's a thief. I reckon his plans were that he knew I'd paid by card on email for a mini-break I'd had and he was planning to access that email (hence me changing my cards).

Before you buy anything recommended on FB, come out of FB and enter the Company name on Google, this should direct you to the official site. If there is one.

Very often you will find the site but with very different prices and address, other times you won’t find anything as the Company is bogus.

So always Google the Company site first and go through the official one to buy.

Facebook is full of scammers. I occasionally get a friend request from some random stranger with a photo which won't be him telling me how much he wants to be my friend. REMOVE!!!

Primrose53

There are several similar ads on FB showing very elegant older craftspeople who claim to be retiring from their business making hand crafted leather bags. If you check them out on Trust Pilot the reviews are dreadful. You pay up and get cheap looking PVC bags not the real ones as advertised. That’s if you are lucky, because a lot of people get nothing.

These are cheap bags made in China but claim to be made in England. It is hilarious because on the FB post they use the most ridiculous made up names of “satisfied customers.”

A few months ago similar adverts were on for bras. They have replaced them. Don’t get caught out.

I've seen a few of those recently on FB, Primrose53, artisan, hand-made leather bags, beautiful clothes, the businesses owned by someone who crafts these things but wishes to retire so is selling them off.

All scams.

Thank you Primrose23, I get those adverts and last week saw one with what looked like upmarket hand knitted sweaters, with attractive prices - very cleverly priced, cheaper than usual, but not dirt cheap. I looked at them, but couldn't find any information on what they were made of. I had assumed wool, but couldn't confirm it and there was other information I wanted that was missing, so I decided not to shop on the site. Your post suggests I had a lucky escape.

There are several similar ads on FB showing very elegant older craftspeople who claim to be retiring from their business making hand crafted leather bags. If you check them out on Trust Pilot the reviews are dreadful. You pay up and get cheap looking PVC bags not the real ones as advertised. That’s if you are lucky, because a lot of people get nothing.

These are cheap bags made in China but claim to be made in England. It is hilarious because on the FB post they use the most ridiculous made up names of “satisfied customers.”

A few months ago similar adverts were on for bras. They have replaced them. Don’t get caught out.

keepingquiet

It isn't your fault. These people are a menace and anyone can be caught out.

the truth!

If an offer is too good to be true. It IS too good to be true, avoid it.

Thanks for the warning Jane.

It isn't your fault. These people are a menace and anyone can be caught out.