Scammers targeting online sellers using fake banking apps, NI police warn

Police in Northern Ireland are warning of an increase in fake banking app scams targeting people selling items online.

People selling goods on well-known online trading platforms are being cheated by bogus purchasers who use the fake apps to wrongly claim money has been transferred in the transactions.

In one incident, a victim agreed to meet a bogus buyer to agree the sale of an iPhone XS. While the seller was shown an apparent transaction of money on a banking app, the cash was never received.

In another case, a victim selling an Xbox 1 was duped in the same scenario.

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Det chief supt Ian Saunders, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s criminal investigation branch, urged the public to be “extra vigilant” after a rise in recent reports of the scams.

“We have noticed an increase in fake bank app scams and would encourage members of the public to be very careful when selling items online,” he said.

“Fraudsters are continuously coming up with more sophisticated ways of taking money from unsuspecting victims and people of all ages and backgrounds are being conned out of money.

“We would advise people to never hand over goods until they have payment either in the form of cash in their hand or in their bank account which they have checked online.

“Once funds have been transferred they usually appear in an account within minutes so please take the time to check before parting with goods.”