Fake shed selling scam | Mirage News

Police are reminding the community to be wary of fake ads on online marketplace and classified sites after receiving reports of a fake shed selling scam.

Police have been alerted to scammers posting a fake ad about a backyard shed for sale. The buyer is given the address of the shed and told to take a look. If the buyer is keen to purchase, they are provided bank details to transfer money into. Once the transaction has occurred, the ‘seller’ provides a screen shot receipt and even a picture of a driver’s licence. The buyer is told to go around and disassemble the shed and take it away – the seller has some excuse as to why they can’t be there.

Unfortunately for the buyer – the real owner of the shed has never advertised it for sale and police have even been called to investigate a ‘theft’. Whilst the buyer has been able to explain he wasn’t stealing the shed, he has been defrauded with little chance of getting his money back. …