I came across a listing on eBay UK selling mobile phones. I was about to start my own home business and thought this would be a great chance to get my first lot of stock. I emailed the seller to ask if I was able to bid on the items, as I am located in Australia. I received a reply from an email address stating that he was happy to sell to me and we could negotiate the price directly between ourselves. The listing was later cancelled by eBay, however I was unaware at that stage.

Several emails back and forth between myself and the person in question and we had negotiated prices and ready to do the deal. His emails were sometimes slow coming to me, which did concern me, however when they did arrive they seemed very genuine. As a very trusting person I also could not imagine someone taking peoples money like he did.

He emailed me his name, address and bank details and I sent the money (Australian $3000) to his account in Spain. I had left my job several years ago due to disability and having a home business was going to be wonderful for me. I borrowed all of the money from my parents, who also felt that this man was genuine.

He had promised to ship the goods as soon as he received a confirmation that the money had been sent to his account. I emailed him several confirmation letters, and also the foreign exchange service I used sent him email confirmations however we did not hear from him again. We know that he received the money and he was conning us all along.

The repercussions of this scam have meant so much more than losing money. There are so many personal implications with regards to having surgery and my health. All of that now hangs in the balance. After losing $3000 of my parents’ money I am very reluctant to have them lend me more money for my operation.

The message is very simple, and also a little sad. You just can't trust people. I have always given people the benefit of the doubt and taken their honesty for granted as I know I could not ever be so dishonest and shameful. It's very sad now that the basic faith people had in fellow humans has been ruined by people such as this man.

The home business I was planning is now very stressful. I do not know how to get stock from suppliers without being scammed again and I feel so let down that it is difficult to be trusting of people. I have kept all the emails this person sent to me, and even now reading over them they do sound so genuine. Please be wary everybody, because there are bad people out there who are very clever at pretending to be good people.

Lou has asked that if anyone has any information whatsoever on the person described below, they get in contact with her via to Barcelona Reporter asap:

Name & Address: Matei Constantin Emil, Calle de Florida 55, 48902 Barcelona, Spain
Bank Data: Caixa Penedes, Riera Blanca 94, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain



My name is Anze and I come from Slovenia in Europe. I have the same problem as Lou Thomas, but the date is different.

I wanted to buy a new mobile phone for me and for my friends, so I went to Ebay and there I found a cheap mobile phone and so I contacted the seller.

Several emails back and forth between myself and the seller in question and we had negotiated prices and we were ready to do the deal. I transferred the money to the seller and sent him the e-mail, that he would get the money.

The seller told me that when the money was in his bank account, he will send me the phones via UPS. That never happened. I didn't get the phones.

As a very trusting person I also could not imagine someone taking peoples money like he did.

I'm writing the seller e-mails, but I do not get any answer from him. I transferred to him 2850 EUR to the same bank as Lou did. I borrowed the money from some person. But this person now insists that I return his money back. Happily I returned the money back, but I have had to borrow from my parents.

The seller's name on Ebay? Matei Constantin Emil.