A couple who attempted to sell their Xbox to pay for a family holiday have fallen victim to a 'terrifying' scam. Paul Molloy and his partner Charlotte wanted to take their kids away to Wales for a trip.
But the cost of living crisis meant that the couple needed to raise cash for the holiday by selling the gaming console on Facebook Marketplace and were contacted by an interested buyer to come and collect it from their home, reports the Manchester Evening News.
A scary incident then occurred when Charlotte was home alone with the couple's young children and the man arrived an hour earlier than had been arranged after conversations with Paul on the evening of Saturday, April 29.
Paul said: "I told the man that I wouldn't be home until 7pm and that my partner was in with the kids and didn't feel comfortable doing the transaction on her own.
"But he arrived early and it was pouring with rain outside so she let him in. Charlotte had asked him to show that he was sending the payment but as he was about to press send she got distracted by our newborn son who had started crying."
The dad then contacted his partner to say the payment hadn't gone through but by that time the crook had vanished from the area. Paul believes an Xbox, with distinctive similar features to his, has now appeared back for auction on Facebook Marketplace
He said: "I had listed the Xbox for £300 on Facebook which we were going to use to take our kids to Wales as we've really been struggling with the cost of living.
"But now we've had to cancel the holiday which we are devastated about. My partner feels very stupid and pretty violated having let someone like that into the home.
"Because I wasn't there I wasn't aware that it wasn't the same man as I'd been messaging on Facebook. She is terrified about what could have happened."
Charlotte added: "I am just frustrated. That was our last chance to go be able to take the kids away. I just feel like I've been such a mug.
"He showed me the banking app and he just said he had sent it but then my son started crying and he must have just cancelled the payment. This guy just came into my house with my kids there. It's scary to think about what could have happened."
Paul has reported the incident to GMP and is asking anyone who might have information to email him at Paul-0408@hotmail.com.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the incident had been reported to them and passed on to Action Fraud.
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