Online scam victim sells belongings to buy Macbook on eBay – and gets photo in return
A wannabe DJ sold some of his belongings to win an online auction for an Apple Macbook – only to be sent a photo of the computer instead.
Gutted Paul Barrington, 38, fell victim to a scam after winning the auction for the top-of-the-range laptop with a bid of £300 ($450).
The deal for the computer – which bought new would have cost about $2,300 - proved too good to be true when a tiny package arrived a few days later in the mail containing just a black-and-white photocopy of the sleek white laptop Paul sold his last surfboard to pay for.
He said: "I sold my pride and joy for a piece of paper.
"It’s the first time I haven’t had a surfboard since I was 10 years old but I need a laptop so I checked the listing and the seller’s rating.
"He’d been a member for a few years, so there was nothing to be suspicious about."
Paul was planning to launch a career as a wedding DJ after suffering from a lung condition called Bullous Emphesima which forced him to give up his job in child care.
He said "The package was as light as a feather. Why bother sending a picture in a box? It doesn't make any sense. I almost had to laugh.
"The worst thing is, I'm trying to set up a business and this is a massive delay."
Paul called eBay to report the incident and has been told he must wait several days before he finds out if he is entitled to a refund.
Another eBay buyer, Peter Clatworthy, 19, fell into the same trap when he bought what he thought was a bargain $750 Xbox One for his son’s birthday in 2013, but was sent just a picture of of the machine instead.
