‘Then we had more than 100 people show up’: Couple caught in bizarre marketplace scam
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Online shopping scams are nothing new, but sometimes, they take an unexpected and downright bizarre turn.
What unfolded next was a frustrating ordeal that exposed the dark side of online marketplaces.
What happens when an innocent household becomes the unwitting centre of a digital con?
A Queensland couple found themselves at the centre of a bizarre scam when over 100 people arrived at their doorstep, expecting to collect items they had purchased online.
Since July, Leah and Gerard had been turning away strangers who showed up at their home, convinced they were picking up goods bought through social media.
The couple had no idea their address had been used by a scammer posing as an online seller, tricking unsuspecting buyers into believing they were purchasing everything from bicycles to large furniture.
Leah recalled that the confusion began when a woman knocked on their door asking about a bike she had seen online.
‘Then we had more than 100 people show up to our home looking for items that we supposedly had for sale that we did not,’ she shared.
Buyers came from various parts of Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast, unaware they had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme.
Some had already paid deposits, while others had even hired couriers to pick up their supposed purchases.
‘They would arrive anywhere from 7:30 in the morning right through until 10:00 to 10:30 at night,’ Leah said.
The constant stream of visitors disrupted the couple’s lives, forcing them to take drastic action to deter people from knocking on their door.
They erected a sign at the front of their house that read: ‘We are not a social media seller. Unfortunately, a scammer is using our address fraudulently.’
‘We understand how inconvenient this is for everyone, and it is very stressful for our family.’
Despite reporting the fraudulent accounts, the scammer simply created new ones and continued using the couple’s address to lure in more unsuspecting buyers.
It wasn’t until a local representative intervened and contacted the parent company of the platform that the fraudulent account was finally taken down.
The ordeal left Leah and Gerard frustrated, as they had no control over how many more people would arrive at their home, believing they had been scammed.
Cyber support group ID Care warned Australians to be cautious when shopping online.
They advised buyers to look out for sellers with no profile picture, few followers and deals that seemed too good to be true.
Scammers often use random local addresses to appear legitimate and may request deposits before a sale is finalised.
In some cases, they even ask buyers to send copies of personal identification, putting them at risk of identity theft.
‘Identity theft also is a big risk,’ ID Care chief executive Dave Lacey shared.
The couple hoped their ordeal would serve as a warning for others to be vigilant when purchasing items from unknown sellers online.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Check out more shocking scam stories here!
Online scams are evolving, and this couple’s ordeal is a stark reminder of how easily innocent people can be caught in the crossfire. Have you ever encountered a suspicious online seller or fallen victim to a scam?
Share your experience in the comments.
What unfolded next was a frustrating ordeal that exposed the dark side of online marketplaces.
What happens when an innocent household becomes the unwitting centre of a digital con?
A Queensland couple found themselves at the centre of a bizarre scam when over 100 people arrived at their doorstep, expecting to collect items they had purchased online.
Since July, Leah and Gerard had been turning away strangers who showed up at their home, convinced they were picking up goods bought through social media.
The couple had no idea their address had been used by a scammer posing as an online seller, tricking unsuspecting buyers into believing they were purchasing everything from bicycles to large furniture.
Queensland couple caught in online scam chaos. Image source: 9News
Leah recalled that the confusion began when a woman knocked on their door asking about a bike she had seen online.
‘Then we had more than 100 people show up to our home looking for items that we supposedly had for sale that we did not,’ she shared.
Buyers came from various parts of Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast, unaware they had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme.
Some had already paid deposits, while others had even hired couriers to pick up their supposed purchases.
‘They would arrive anywhere from 7:30 in the morning right through until 10:00 to 10:30 at night,’ Leah said.
The constant stream of visitors disrupted the couple’s lives, forcing them to take drastic action to deter people from knocking on their door.
They erected a sign at the front of their house that read: ‘We are not a social media seller. Unfortunately, a scammer is using our address fraudulently.’
‘We understand how inconvenient this is for everyone, and it is very stressful for our family.’
Desperate couple puts up a sign to stop scam. Image source: 9News
Despite reporting the fraudulent accounts, the scammer simply created new ones and continued using the couple’s address to lure in more unsuspecting buyers.
It wasn’t until a local representative intervened and contacted the parent company of the platform that the fraudulent account was finally taken down.
The ordeal left Leah and Gerard frustrated, as they had no control over how many more people would arrive at their home, believing they had been scammed.
Cyber support group ID Care warned Australians to be cautious when shopping online.
They advised buyers to look out for sellers with no profile picture, few followers and deals that seemed too good to be true.
Scammers often use random local addresses to appear legitimate and may request deposits before a sale is finalised.
In some cases, they even ask buyers to send copies of personal identification, putting them at risk of identity theft.
‘Identity theft also is a big risk,’ ID Care chief executive Dave Lacey shared.
The couple hoped their ordeal would serve as a warning for others to be vigilant when purchasing items from unknown sellers online.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Check out more shocking scam stories here!
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Online scams are evolving, and this couple’s ordeal is a stark reminder of how easily innocent people can be caught in the crossfire. Have you ever encountered a suspicious online seller or fallen victim to a scam?
Share your experience in the comments.
