Warning on smartphone eBay fraud

Shropshire Council’s trading standards service is advising consumers to be on their guard for a fraud involving the sale of iPhones and HTC smartphones on the eBay website. 

The warning follows a series of complaints from consumers across the country.  Consumers reported paying for the phones on eBay using the PayPal payment system, but when they were delivered by courier to the purchaser’s address, the parcels were found to be empty. 

The loss to PayPal and eBay currently stands at more than £34,000 and this figure is expected to rise. 

Paulina Poplawska, fair trading officer with the trading standards service, said:

“If you are a victim of shopping or auction fraud, the most immediate problem is that you can have no real prospect of having your money refunded.  After this, there is a risk that your identity details could be compromised.  Fraudsters can steal your identity and use it to access your personal finances or obtain goods or finance from alternative sources.” 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said:

“As the popularity of internet shopping and online auctions grows, so the number of complaints about transactions is increasing. 

“We’d ask people to watch out if they are offered a deal below the current bid or reserve price, especially if you are contacted directly.  Also be extremely careful when buying things from people with little or no selling history.  Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.” 

If you think you may have become the victim of a scam, report it to Consumer Direct by calling 08454 04 05 06 or visiting the website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.