Warning over Facebook scam run by fake mobile phone businessman
Detectives have issued a warning to people to be alert over a Facebook scam involving mobile phones.
Northumbria Police is investigating a number of fraud incidents dating back to June 2014, with the most recent being this month.
The scams involve victim's Facebook accounts being hacked and the offenders posting adverts on their timeline about opportunities to earn money.
The victim's friends have seen the adverts and believing they have been posted from their friend they 'like' the post and message them about the advert.
They then get a message back, believing it is from their friend, but from the fraudsters and get their phone number from them.
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A man then makes contact and offers two 'opportunities'.
The first is that he has a business that can obtain Government funding and he can claim money on their behalf and split the fund. In the second he states that he has a mobile phone business and requires new phones to sell on.
In both schemes he asks the victim to obtain as many contract mobile phones as possible claiming his company will take over the contracts and asks for bank details so he can transfer funds to them, however, the funds are not transferred.
Some victims have also had payday loans taken out in their name using their bank details.
Police are warning people to be vigilant, if they receive similar requests check with the friend in person and not over Facebook.
Also never pass any personal details online to strangers.
Officers have had reports of this type offence happening all across the force area.
If anyone has information about regarding this type of fraud or thinks they have been a victim they should contact Northumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.