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FACEBOOK 'SCAM'

Granddad ‘scammed out of £100 by “fake” Facebook advert’

Roy Thomas said the sale had guaranteed he would receive the ebike in five to seven days - but more than 30 days later, he's still waiting

A GRANDFATHER fears he has fallen victim to a scam after buying an ebike online from a suggested Facebook post ad - with the bike never arriving.

Roy Thomas said he had been delighted when he spotted the Dic Space advert on the social media platform, being suggested an ebike for £98.99 in a flash sale.

 Roy Thomas said he had been hoping to get an ebike - but was still waiting
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Roy Thomas said he had been hoping to get an ebike - but was still waitingCredit: Roy Thomas

The 60-year-old ordered the bike in October, waiting for the bike that had been guaranteed to arrive in 5-7 days.

More than 30 days later, he’s still waiting for the Ruffian black Pedelec.

Roy, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, told The Sun Online: “It had looked like a bona fide company, and it looked very professional.

“It all looked good but after seven days it still hadn’t arrived.”

 The Facebook advertisement offered up an ebike for sale in a suggested post
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The Facebook advertisement offered up an ebike for sale in a suggested postCredit: Roy Thomas
 The tracking manifesto claimed the bike was delivered - but it never came
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The tracking manifesto claimed the bike was delivered - but it never cameCredit: Roy Thomas

The tracking order told him that it was slowly arriving in the UK, eventually making it to his home over the weekend.

But Roy insists that the product never arrived, with the CCTV on his building even showing that no one had ever dropped off a package.

He said: “In effect, they don’t give you any actual details of the company that is going to be delivering the item, or anything to go off with that, so you can’t contact anyone.

“I’ve tried contacting the company but never received one bit of contact from them again.

“I had sent them an email saying I could pick it up, but it fell on deaf ears.”

He said he was fearful other Facebook users had forked out for the product after spotting the ad, and might have had a similar experience to him.

Concerns that Facebook scams are on the rise were sparked this year with raffle scams being posted on the social media platform.

Even Martin Lewis has warned about posts using his name, while Ryanair customers have been hit with fake posts offering two free flights.

Others have been hit with dodgy Facebook messages - with one Brit woman exacting the perfect revenge.

Roy  said: “It’s not just my £100 that I’m worried about.

“It’s the morality of the thing with people potentially being ripped off. If I’m getting ripped off, then the odds are then that other people have got the same issue.”

 

Facebook confirmed that it was investigating.

The social media platform relies on a reporting system, with adverts that are found to breach their guidelines to be taken down.

Dic Space has been contacted for comment.

This Morning consumer expert gives advice on how to avoid falling victim


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