Warning about scammers targeting DoneDeal
People who purchase items through the DoneDeal.ie website are being warned, yet again, by the site’s operators to be wary of parting with their money before getting their hands on the goods.
The warning comes in the wake of a series of incidents in recent months whereby people from all over Galway have been duped into lodging money into various accounts in city banks with the promise of getting their hands on much sought-after One Direction or Ed Sheeran concert tickets, major rugby match day tickets, or even expensive car parts, at knock-down prices, which never arrived in the post, because they never existed in the first place.
Several people have appeared in recent weeks before the courts in Galway City charged with duping unsuspecting buyers into lodging money into their bank accounts for such items which were advertised on the DoneDeal.ie website.
More are due to appear before the courts in the coming weeks charged with similar offences.
DoneDeal Customer Safety officer, Mr Finbarr Garland says the site is working closely with Gardai in Galway in their investigation into the recent upsurge in fraudulent activity on the classified ads website by Galway-based criminals.
“DoneDeal would like to express its concerns for the victims of these crimes which took place over the last number of months.
“We have been working with Detective Paul McNulty on this enquiry and will continue to assist An Garda Siochana with any follow up enquiries/investigations.
“Whilst the vast majority of people have a positive experience when buying and selling goods through classified advertising, there are occasions when buyers or sellers can be misled and taken advantage of.
“DoneDeal strongly urges all its users to review the Safety Guidelines, which provide help and advice to users to ensure they minimise the potential risks involved,” a statement issued by the website this week reads.
Mr Garland says people should also read the site’s Top Safety Tips and Buying Event Tickets links which will help prevent them from falling prey to fraudsters.
“In particular, people should be very wary of lodging money into a bank account before they get the goods,” he urged.
The website, he says, has tracking systems which can help in identifying those who seek to exploit it for fraudulent and criminal purposes.
These processes, Mr Garland said, have been instrumental in leading to criminal prosecutions already.
The company, he said, has also helped stamp out ticket touts, for example with the Ed Sheeran concert.
“We work in partnership with Crimestoppers and would encourage anyone who suspects that a buyer or seller is engaging in illegal activity to call Crimestoppers on 1800 25 00 25. All calls are confidential, no one will ever know you called and you do not have to leave your name and address,” Mr Garland advises.