A Greymouth couple is $15,000 poorer after falling victim
to an internet scam involving Trade Me.
The couple unsuccessfully bid on a car on Trade Me but were
contacted soon after and told the deal had fallen through and
that they could buy it after all, The Press reported.
Detective Sergeant Jackie Adams said they deposited $15,000
into what they thought was a Safetrader website and were then
given a phone number of a Wellington mechanic, who supposedly
had the car for pickup.
"When they discovered the mechanic didn't exist, they
contacted Safetrader, who they believed to be safely holding
their money, and found they didn't have an account," Ms Adams
told the newspaper.
They tried to stop the transfer but their bank found it had
gone to a Barclays Bank in Britain, who told them the money
was gone.
The couple was "destroyed"; they had little money and had put
everything into buying a new car needed for work.
The police held out little hope of retrieving any money as
they were "chasing shadows", Ms Adams said.
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