A man who was simply looking to sell his iPhone is counting his losses after falling victim to a Facebook buyer scam.

According to Eric Nell from Middelburg, he had advertised his iPhone 13 on Facebook when a buyer from eMalahleni showed interest.

The two agreed to meet at a mall in eMalahleni, where the buyer inspected the phone and agreed to purchase it.

However, when it came time to pay, the buyer allegedly gave him a runaround and sent a fake proof of payment.

“We waited a long time for the money to reflect in my account, but it never did,” Nell said.

At around 15:00, the man wanted to leave, saying it was getting late and claiming the money would eventually reflect.

“I grabbed him and snatched my phone, but I was extremely disappointed when he started calling for security’s help, saying I was stealing his phone,” he said.

Unfortunately, according to Nell, security believed the man’s story.

“They refused to listen to me. He just took my phone and left,” he added.

Warrant Officer David Ratau from the Witbank SAPS advised people to refrain from making deals with individuals they do not know and to avoid meeting in quiet areas.

“If you are selling something and meeting a potential buyer, make sure you do not go alone and that you meet in busy areas where there is movement of people,” he said.

Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram or TikTok

Chat to us: info@witbanknews.co.za